512 THE PHILOSOPHY 



kingdom is not lefs fubje(St to metamorphofes ; but thefe be- 

 long not to our prefent fubje(St. Thougli forms continually 

 change, the quantity of matter is invariable. The fame fub- 

 ilances pafs fucceffively into the three kingdoms, and confti- 

 tute, in their turn, a mineral, a plant, an infe(Sl, a reptile, a 

 fifh, a bird, a quadruped, a man. In thefe transformations, 

 organized bodies are the principal agents. They change or 

 decompofe every fubftance that either enters into them, or 

 is expofed to the action of their powers. Some they affimu- 

 late, by the procefs of nutrition, into their own fubfiatice ; 

 others they evacuate in different forms j and thefe evacua- 

 tions make ingredients in the compofitions of other bodies, 

 as thofe of infedls, whofe multiplication is prodigious, and 

 affords a very great quantity of organized matter for the 

 nourifhment and fupport of almofl every animated being. 

 Thus, from the apparently vileft and mofk contemptible fpe-= 

 cies of matter, the richeft productions derive their origin. 

 The mofl beautiful flowers, the mofl exquifite fruits, and the 

 mofl ufeful grain, all proceed from the bofom of corrup- 

 tion. The earth is continually beftowing frefli gifts upon 

 us •, and her powers would foon be exhaufled, if what fhe 

 perpetually gives were not perpetually reftored to her. It is 

 a law of Nature, that all organized bodies fhould be decom- 

 pofed, and gradually transform.ed into earth. While under- 

 going this fpecies of diiTolution, their more volatile particles 

 pafs into the air, and are diffufed through the atmofphere. 

 Thus animals, at leafl portions of them, are buried in the air, 

 as well as in the earth, or in water. Thefe floating particles 

 foon enter into the compofition of new organized beings, 

 who are themfelves deftined to undergo the fame revolutions. 

 This circulation of organized matter has continued fince th^ 

 commencement of the world, and will proceed in the fame? 

 courfe till its final defl:ru<Stion. 



