Human Frame. 



ring in this respect in any one of these 

 would throw the whole into inextricable 

 disorder ; when he considers with what 

 promptitude the whole of this is done in 

 an instant by the mere act of his volition, 

 and how in another instant, by a change 

 in that volition, all these muscles are 

 thrown into a different state, and a new 

 set brought into action, and so on conti- 

 nually as long as he pleases, his mind is 

 lost in the immensity of wonder that this 

 excites. But when he farther reflects, 

 that it is not only he himself that is en- 

 dowed with the faculty of calling forth 

 those incomprehensible energies, but that; 

 the most insignificant insect is vested 

 with powers of a similar sort, he is still 

 more confounded., A skilful naturalist 

 has been able to perceive, that in the body 

 of the poorest caterpillar, which, in the 

 common opinion, is one of the most de- 

 graded existences on the globe, there are 

 upwards of two thousand muscles, all of 

 which can be brought into action with as 

 much facility at the will of that insect, 

 and perform their several offices with as 

 much accuracy, promptitude, and preci- 

 sion, as in the most perfect animal ; 



