278 NATURAL THEOLOaY. 



either in plants or animals, we are able to examine the sub- 

 ject, we find procreation from a parent form : without neces- 

 sity, for I apprehend that it is seldom difficult to suggest 

 methods by which the eggs, or spawn, or yet invisible rudi- 

 ments of these vermin may have obtained a passage into the 

 cavities in which they are found.^ Add to this, that their 

 constancy to their species, which I believe is as regular in 

 these as in the other vermes, decides the question against 

 our philosopher, if in truth any question remained v pon the 

 subject. 



Lastly, these wonder-working instruments, these " inter- 

 nal moulds," what are they after all ; Avhat, when examin- 

 ed, but a name without signification ; unintelligible, if not 

 self-contiddictory ; at the best, differing in nothing from the 

 " essential forms " of the Greek philosophy ? One iihort 

 sentence of Buffon's work exhibits his scheme as follows : 

 " When this nutritious and prolific matter, which is diffused 

 throughout all nature, passes through the internal mould of 

 an animal or vegetable, and finds a proper matrix or recep- 

 tacle, it gives rise to an animal or vegetable of the same 

 species." Does any reader annex a meaning to the expres- 

 sion " internal mould," in this sentence ? Ought it then to 

 be said, that though we have little notion of an internal 

 mould, we have not much more of a designing mind ? The 

 very contrary of this assertion is the truth. "When we ^peak 

 of an artificer or an architect, we talk of what is compre- 

 hensible to our understanding and familiar to our experience. 

 We use no other terms than what refer us for their meaning 

 to our consciousness and observation — what express the con- 

 stant objects of both ; whereas names like that we have 

 mentioned refer us to nothing, excite no idea ; they convey a 

 sound to the ear, but I think do no more. 



* I trust I may be excused for not citing, as another fact Tviuch la 

 to confirm the hypothesis, a grave assertion of this 'write'-, that the 

 branches of trees upon •■vhich the stag feeds break out again in his 

 h-^rns. SuchjTarfs merit no discussion. 



