INGENERAL. 29 



111 which we employ Houu^ and ftill more from 

 thofe in which we ought to ufe the words houj 

 much or hoiv many. Why always relates to the 

 caufe of the efted:,or to the effed: itfelf ; hoiv re- 

 lates to the manner in which the effect happens ; 

 and hoiv much relates to the meafure or quantity 

 of the effed. 



Thefe diftindions being ePiabli{l:icd, let us now 

 examine the qucflioa concerning the reproduc- 

 tion of beings, if it be demanded ^why animals 

 and vegetables continue their fpecies ? we clear- 

 ly perceive that this is a queftion of fad, and 

 therefore it is ufelefs and infolvable. But, 

 if it be afked hoiv animals and vegetables are re- 

 produced? we are enabled to lolve the queftion, 

 by giving the hiftory of the generation of every 

 fpecies of animal, and of the reprodudion of e- 

 very fpecies of plant : After tracing, however, 

 every polfible method of propagation, and ma- 

 king the moft exad oblervations, we have 

 learned the fads only, but have not difcove'-d 

 the caufes : And, as the means Nature employs 

 in multiplying and containing the fpecies, feem 

 to have no relation to the ell'cds produced, we 

 are ftill under the necefTity of aftcing, by what 

 fecret caufe Ihe enables beings to propagate their 

 kinds? 



This queftion is very difierent from the fi ^ft: 

 and fecond. It admits of nice fcrutiny, and e- 

 ven allows us to employ the powers of imagi- 

 nation. It is, therefore, by no means infolvablb ; 



for 



