192 RemarJcs on Mr, Mam^s Qiiestion. 



ceedj and afford evidence of the coalescence of the watery 

 vapours ; and, perhaps, also of the deflagration of floating 

 masses of oxygen and hydrogen, the elements of water. These 

 mighty operations astonish and overcome us : but they are 

 neither more nor less wonderful than the developement of a 

 leaf, the protrusion of a bristle, or the conversion of the fluid 

 cambium into the cellular tissue of the alburnum. Where all 

 is wonder, we can only trace and reason upon second causes ; 

 but if we go beyond, and attempt to penetrate into the mys- 

 teries of creation, our senses become bewildered, and the clue 

 is lost. Here we must be contented to pause, and to confess 

 that such knowledge " is too wonderful for us ; we cannot 

 attain unto it." 



Dec. 25. 1832. G. J. T. 



Art- VIT. Remarks on Mr. Mains Question to the Author of the 

 *' Domestic Gardener s Manual." By Joseph Hayward, Esq., 

 Author of the " Science of Horticulture," &c. 



Sir, 

 Your correspondent, Mr. Main asks (Vol. VIII. p. 652.), 

 " Is it possible that organic structure can be formed out of 

 mere fluids, whether simple or compound, as they are formed 

 in the root, stem, leaves, flowers, or fruit of plants ? If such 

 a process of accretion be possible, I would wish to be in- 

 formed how it takes place ; and particularly, whether there 

 be any similar process or instance, in the whole range of ani- 

 mated nature, with which it can be compared?" Now, as 

 it would be ridiculous to offer an answer that Mr. Main 

 cannot understand, allow me to ask him, by what means does 

 he suppose his bones and other organic structure were enlarged 

 during the five or six months following his birth, otherwise 

 than by the accretion produced from his mother's milk? Or, 

 if this be not thought a fluid sufficiently simple to meet his 

 question, let him look into his tea kettle, and inform himself 

 whence the accretion which forms the lining of stone which 

 he will there find, if not from the water which is boiled in it? 

 And if this be not a liquid sufficiently limpid, let him try 

 Sir H. Davy's experiment of procuring pure carbon, by 

 burning spirit of wine in a glass tube. But if he wishes to 

 delve into those hidden secrets of nature (which never have 

 been, and most probably never will be, made known to man, at 

 least in his corporeal existence), that secret, or those secrets, 

 by which the living principle is formed and determined in its 

 action, and to become a second Prometheus, I do not know 

 how he is to obtain this power, unless he will do as Goethe 



