432 EFFECTS OF THE COMPOSITION 



link of the great chain of Creation, seems to 

 become every day more and more apparent. Nay, 

 if we are to credit the ingenious Author of the 

 Philosophy of Natural History, lately published in 

 Edinburgh, it is not a little evident ; and, indeed, 

 the great number of curious facts and observations 

 which he has brought together, render the phrase 

 which I have used above, much less improper than 

 it would have otherwise appeared on the face of 

 the case. All these considerations then make 

 me see, with the more pleasure, the sagacious 

 application of at least one branch of the healing 

 art to certain diseases of vegetables, to the ad- 

 vantage of the world in general, and the British 

 Navy in particular, which must gain infinitely 

 by the preservation and health of British Oak, 

 unrivalled for the noble purpose to which it is 

 applied. 



I have still to congratulate you on your becom- 

 ing, so deservedly, a member of our Society ; for 

 sure no treatise ever laid before us promised a 

 wider field of public and private economy, and of 

 course none ever came more immediately under 

 the spirit and purport of our institution. 

 I am. Sir, 



With hearty wishes for the success and extended 

 range of your pursuit. 



Your most obedient, humble Servant, 

 (^Signed) Matthew Guthrie. 



To Mr, Forsyth^ Kensington, 



