i88 VESTIGES OE THE 



parison more apt than digiiilied, we may be said to be 

 placed liere as we can conceive a sect of insects to be in a 

 garden of the old style. Our first nnassisted view^ is 

 limited, and we perceive only the irregularities of the 

 minute surface, and single shrubs which appear capri- 

 ciously scattered. But, our view at length extending and 

 becoming more comprehensive, we begin to see parterres 

 balancing each other, trees, statues, and arbours placed 

 symmetrically, and that the whole is an assemblage of 

 parts mutually reflective. It can scarcely be necessary 

 to point to the inference hence arising with regard to the 

 origination of nature in some Powder, of which man's 

 mind is a faint and humble representation. The insects 

 of the garden, supposing them to be invested with 

 reasoning power, and aware how artificial are their own 

 works, might of course very reasonably conclude that 

 being in its totality an artificial object, the garden was 

 the work of some maker or artificer. And so also must 

 we conclude, when we attain a knowledge of the arti- 

 ficiality which is at the basis of nature, that nature is 

 wholly the production of a Being resembling, but 

 infinitely greater, than ourselves. 



Organic beings are, then, bound together in develop- 

 ment, and in a system of both afiinities and analogies. 

 Now, it will be asked, does this agree with what we 

 know of the geographical distribution of organic beings, 

 and of the history of organic progress as delineated by 

 geology ? Let us first advert to the geographical 

 question. 



Plants, as is Avell known, require various kinds of soil, 

 forms of geographical surface, climate, and other con- 

 ditions, for their existence. And it is everywhere found 

 that, however isolated a particular spot may be with 

 regard to these conditions — as a mountain-top in a torrid 



