230 THE VARIOUS ACCOUNTS, | [1823. | 
but causes it to act in so extraordinary a manner in the creation 
and reproduction of matter. In fine the philosopher, whether his 
researches regard the minuteness or magnitude of creation, is equally 
prepared for the wonders that are displayed to his eye. The aid 
of the mikroscoop makes known to him the existence of myriads 
of living creatures, some of such incredible smallness, that the 
utmost powers of the magnifier can with difficulty render them 
visible; and of which thousands if put together, would not equal 
a grain of sand in bulk. He finds even, that the human body itself 
is filled with them; and that the structure of their own internal 
parts is equally complex and curious. When, however, he reflects, 
that each of these beings, diminutive as they are, may perhaps 
contain a countless number of other, visible but to the minuter 
tecture of their eyes, he is lost and bewildered, and can only look 
forward to the period, when his purer existence will be permitted 
to comprehend the great secrets of nature, and the mysteries of 
the universe. If, on the other hand, he directs his steps to the 
deep gnoom of the African forests, tenanted by their various wild 
inhabitants, he sees, on a sublimely enlarged scale the works of 
the Creator; whether he meets with the elephant supporting its 
enormous bulk with peaceful and dignified steps, or views the huge 
trunk of the stupendous boa serpent, extended to the length of 
fifty feet, and viing in size with the stately trees, between which 
it glides, the terror of all, and the sovereign of the forest. The 
secrets of the great deep alone are veiled from his inquiring eyes; 
and he regrets, that his structure prevents him from cleaving, like 
the finny tribe, the watery fluid, and gazing on the wonders be- 
low. Phenomena the most extraordinary, nay even a new world, 
would there be opened to his inspection, did not the grosser ma- 
terials of his composition obstruct his pursuit. From the marine 
animal productions, notwithstanding, that come under his obser- ~ 
vation, he finds, on comparing them with those of the land, that 
they are larger, proportionably to the vast space allotted them; 
and he reasonably concludes, that in the existence of unknown 
regions of the ocean, compared with which the land we inhabit 
may be deemed but as a spot, and the depth of which 1s not 
merely that of some miles, but extends, for any thing that is 
known to the contrary, even from pole to pole; there may bea 
variety of animals, greatly exceeding in size even those which, on 
this account alone, have been deemed fabulous: yet that their bulk 
may, nevertheless, be fairly proportioned to the space they inhabit; 
