trivances to produce beneficent ends expedients 

 to overcome opposing obstacles compensations 

 to counterbalance or alleviate unremoved evils. 

 There are general laws impressed on nature, 

 and, under all circumstances, rigidly adhered to, 

 wise, magnificent, universal, but bearing in 

 themselves qualities which subject all things to 

 change and decay, and which in various other 

 respects lead to calamitous consequences. These 

 general laws were to be dealt with in such a way 

 as to produce a world of animated beings in which 

 enjoyment should predominate. " The problem," 

 as has been strikingly remarked, "was, matter 

 being given, to construct a world." 



Here we find materials, often stubborn and 

 apparently unsuitable, moulded and adapted with 

 consummate art to effect some beneficent pur- 

 pose ; we see difficulties the most staggering 

 overcome with amazing skill, and defects which 

 seemed to be incurable, converted, by some sim- 

 ple and unexpected contrivance, into perfections; 

 while the whole system is so admirably combined, 

 and made so beautifully to harmonize, that it is 

 impossible not to acknowledge a power and wis- 

 dom altogether Divine. Change, decay and ca- 

 lamity are, as we have said, inherent in the very 

 constitution of nature ; and such a state of things 

 seems inconsistent with the permanent welfare 

 of individuals : but here, where contrivances and 

 expedients fail, compensation is introduced. In- 

 dividuals die, but the species lives ; the destruc- 

 tion of one organized being preserves the life 



