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my mind dwelt on the folemnity of the fcene, 

 until I fell into a fort of contemplative re- 

 verie. The ftate of man on our globe; his 

 furprifing powers in changing its furface ; the 

 immenlity he had done ; the extent of his in- 

 fluence ; the great proportion of the earth yet 

 unknown to him ; the ftates of freedom and 

 flavery ; the wide difference between man 

 living in the woods, and in polifhed fociety ; 

 the various ftages of favage, and civilized life ; 

 all paired in mental review before me. The 

 varied appearance of different parts of the 

 globe ; the diverfity of climate ; the extent of 

 thefe wild woods ; their removal by the all- 

 fubduing arm of man; their remaining for 

 ever unexplored, and the undifturbed retreat 

 afforded to their wild inhabitants ; all paffed 

 and repaiTed as fubje&s of my contemplation. 

 Monkies, favages, tigers, ferpents, and all the 

 infinite variety of animals poflfeffing the woods 

 traverfed my thoughts. The grand purpofe 

 of life and being ; the utility of man ; where- 

 fore placed on the globe ; and the whole hoft 

 of fuch-like fuggeftions, multiplied by tenfold 

 difficulties, prefented themfelves to my ima- 

 gination. External obje&s ceafed to imprefs 

 my fenfes, and, becoming abforbed in the 



