140 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



that the fluids of both are moved by similar powers. In 

 animals, the powers of circulation are respiration and 

 muscular action ; of those powers in plants we have already 

 treated, and what has been said on the subject seems to 

 show, that the motion of the juices in plants is rather to be 

 ascribed to them than to capillary attraction. 



* The analogy of animal nature appears to favour the 

 opinion, that the juice rises through the wood only, and 

 descends only through the bark ; but this analogy is not 

 complete throughout. The arteries are not placed in the 

 internal parts alone, nor the veins in the external, but they 

 accompany each other through every part of their distribu- 

 tion. 



' On the whole we may conclude, that the formation and 

 growth of the parts of plants depend chiefly on the vital 

 energy, which is not however exerted except on the appli- 

 cation of stimuli. We admire the marks of wisdom and 

 design, which appear in the creation and preservation of 

 vegetables, but we have no reason to believe that they are 

 possessed of any intelligent power, which presides over and 

 directs their peculiar functions. 



' The principle of life seems universally diffused through 

 nature, but bestowed on different beings in different 

 degrees. To animals is given the largest share ; but 

 throughout the whole animal kingdom, one species de- 

 scends below another in the perfection of its mental powers, 

 as well as of its organic sensations. And this progression 

 is so very gradual, that the most perfect of an inferior 

 species approaches very near to the most imperfect of that 

 which is above it. The chain is continued between vege- 

 tables and animals. 



* And if we admit such motions, as criteria of a like power 



