201 



such an exact resemblance to fragments of decaying leather, scat* 

 tered on the ground, that it requires a near examination to satisfy 

 an unskilful observer, that it is not so. How different are all these 

 from the sturdy tree whose roots strongly grasp the earth and draw 

 from thence abundant nourishment to support the stately pile which 

 rears its lofty top in wild luxuriance to heaven ! Were general re- 

 semblance alone to be relied upon, these very dissimilar substances 

 could never be included in the same class. But the forms which 

 heaven has pleased to impress upon organized matter are so in- 

 finitely diversified, as to compel us to have recourse to other more 

 accurate means, than general appearances, for ascertaining the 

 nature of these substances which attract our attention. But, from 

 the foregoing observations, it appears, the very criterion by which 

 we can examine this substance, its form and appearance alone 

 excepted, proclaims it to be a recent vegetable substance, and nothing 

 else. Why then, the Doctor concludes, should we be startled at 

 appearances in this instance, which we have been obliged to disre- 

 gard in so many other cases of a similar kind ? 



Having now iaid before you the Doctor's hypothesis, in his own 

 words, I will in a summary way state to you the evidence which he 

 adduces in support of it. The solid compact nature of the moss 

 plant, as the Doctor calls it, he thinks ought not to be allowed to 

 make against his theory, since the diversities of plants, as to their 

 modes of growth, are so great, as to give us sufficient reason not to 

 think of limiting the laws of nature in this respect. It is certain, 

 that all mosses have been augmented by an increase of real quick 

 moss, since their first formation. This augmentation, the Doctor 

 thinks, can have happened in no other way than by its increase, in 

 the manner of growing vegetables, from the time of its first germi- 

 nation till the present hour. But what is the nature of the seed or 

 sperm of this supposed moss plant ; how it was first planted ; in what 

 manner its increment has been effected ; or how it should have been 



VOL. i. DD 



