270 HISTORY OF 



against the ground. In this manner it proceeded, with an 

 audible whirling noise, like that of a mill ; and at length dissolv- 

 ed, after having done much mischief. 



But we must still continue to suspend our assent as to the 

 nature even of these land spouts, since they have been some- 

 times found to drop, in a great column of water, at once upon 

 the earth, and produce an instant inundation,' which could not 

 readily have happened had they been caused by the gyration of a 

 whirlwind only. Indeed, every conjecture regarding these meteors 

 seems to me entirely unsatisfactory. They sometimes appear 

 in the calmest weather at sea, of which I have been an eye-wit- 

 ness ; and therefore these are not caused by a whirlwind. They 

 are always capped by a cloud ; and therefore are not likely to 

 proceed from fires at the bottom. They change place; and 

 therefore suction seems impracticable. In short, we still want 

 facts, upon which to build a rational theor>'; and instead of 

 knowledge, we must be contented with admiration. To be well 

 acquainted with the appearances of nature, even though we are 

 ignorant of their causes, often constitutes the most useful 

 wisdom. 



CHAP. XXII. 



THE CONCLUSION. 



Having thus gone through a particular description of the 

 earth, let us now pause for a moment, to contemplate the great 

 picture before us. The universe may be considered as the palace 

 in which the Deity resides ; and this earth as one of its apart- 

 ments. In this, all the meaner races of animated nature me- 

 chanically obey him ; and stand ready to execute his commands 

 without hesitation. Man alone is found refractory ; he is the 

 only being endued with a power of contradicting these mandates. 

 The Deity was pleased to exert superior power in creating him 

 a superior being ; a being endued with 'the choice of good and 

 evil ; and capable, in some measure, of co-operating with his 

 own intentions. Man, therefore, may be considered as a limited 



1 Phil. Trims, vol. iv. p. ii. 108. 



