Microscopical Essays, 



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It might be fufficient in the firft inftance to obferve, that MefT. 

 Needham and Buffon, by having recourie to a vegetative force, 

 and organic particles, to account for the ex i Hence, and explain 

 the nature of animalcula, and the difficulties of generation, have 

 fub diluted words in the place of things, and that we are no gain- 

 ers by the fubftitution, unlefs they explain the nature of thefe 

 powers. But to this we may add, that all thofe who have ex- 

 amined the fubjf 6t with accuracy and attention, as Bonnet, 

 De Sauffure, Baker, Wrifberg, Spalanzane, Haller, Ellis, Mul- 

 ler, Leder Muller, Corti, Roffredi, &c. difagree wi ll the fore- 

 going gentlemen, proving that they had deceived themfelves by 

 inaccurate experiments, and that one of them, M. Buffon, had 

 not feen the fpermatic animals he fuppofed himfelf to be deferr- 

 ing, infomuch that Mr. Needham was at lad induced to give up 

 his favorite hypothefis. 



To this we may add, that though we can by no means pretend 

 to account for the appearance of mod animalcula, yet we cannot 

 help obferving, that our ignorance of the caufe of any phe- 

 nomenon is no argument againft it's exigence. Though we are 

 not, for inftance, able to account in a fatisfaclory manner for the 

 origin of the native Americans, yet we fuppofe M. Buffon him- 

 felf would reckon it abfurd to maintain, that the Spaniards on 

 their arrival there found only organic particles moving 

 about in diforder. The cafe is the very fame with the eels in 

 parte, to whofe animation 7 he objects. They are exceed- 

 ingly frnali in ccmparifon with us; but, with the folar micro- 

 fcope, Mr. Baker has made them affume a more refpecfable 

 appearance; fo as to have a diameter of an inch and an half, 

 and a proportionable length. They fwam up and down very 

 r brifkly ; 



