230 FOUNDATION OF NATURE. 



which extends its ever multiplying stems over 

 acres of space, and braves the vicissitudes of a 

 thousand years, ror be it in the animated tribes, 

 from the small tenants of water tinged with sour 

 paste, to which a single drop is the same for space 

 and scope as an ocean to a whale, to that giant of 

 living creatures : be it in any or in all of these, 

 or in any thing within their limits, or any limits 

 to which the most discursive fancy can extend, 

 even in its farthest flight, there is not a thing 

 done, not # pulse of life, not a hair's breadth of 

 growth, not a tint of colour,, not a trace of mo- 

 tion, not a shadow of change, in which air and 

 water (or one or other of them) are not present, 

 and contribute to the result. 



The observation of Nature is, therefore, very 

 little else than the observation of air and water, 

 simply or in their combinations. So far as we 

 are able to judge, that has been the case in the 

 formation of all the solid and permanent parts of 

 the earth ; for even the oldest mountain rock bears- 

 distinct evidence that its parts have been crystal- 

 lized from a watery solution ; and though in many 

 places we can discover rocks that have been 

 molten by fire, yet these are merely changed rocks 

 that had previously existed ; and, if we wish to 

 trace them back to the first working of Nature's 

 hand upon them to that mysterious boundary 

 where creation is creation still, though our present 

 capacity will go no further it is in the waters 

 we must take our farewell of them. So true, 

 even literally, is the declaration of Holy Writ, 

 v< He hath laid the foundation thereof upon the 

 waters." 



The softer, and, as we may say, the younger 



