LAWS OF HEAT. WATER. 89 



and seem to indicate to us that the laws of their 

 formation were constructed with a view to the 

 purposes of organized life. 



5. Clouds produce rain. In the formation of 

 a cloud the precipitation of moisture probably 

 forms a fine watery potvder, which remains sus- 

 pended in the air in consequence of the minute- 

 ness of its particles : but if from any cause the 

 precipitation is collected in larger portions, and 

 becomes drops, these descend by their weight 

 and produce a shower. 



Thus rain is another of the consequences of the 

 properties of water with respect to heat ; its uses 

 are the results of the laws of evaporation and 

 condensation. These uses, with reference to 

 plants, are too obvious and too numerous to 

 be described. It is evident that on its quan- 

 tity and distribution depend in a great measure 

 the prosperity of the vegetable kingdom : and 

 different climates are fitted for different pro- 

 ductions, no less by the relations of dry weather 

 and showers, than by those of hot and cold. 



6. Returning back still further in the changes 

 which cold can produce on water, we come to 

 snow and ice : snow being apparently frozen cloud 

 or vapour, aggregated by a confused action of 

 crystalline laws ; and ice being water in its fluid 

 state, solidified by the same crystalline forces. 

 The impression of these agents on the animal 

 feelings is generally unpleasant, and we are in 



