J42 



DR BARCLAY 



tures could possibly be formed in the present 

 times, when the Deity, as their hypothesis im- 

 plies, no longer exerts either his creative or super- 

 intending powers, are inclined to believe, that all 

 organized systems were created at once in some of 

 the remotest periods of antiquity, and being en- 

 dowed with a slight degree of perception or irrita- 

 bility, are ready to expand into maturity as soon as 

 they meet with a proper nidus, suitable nourish- 

 ment, and appropriate excitement. Till then, they 

 are floating in countless myriads, through the ele- 

 ments of air, water, and earth, in the state of ex- 

 tremely minute and invisible atoms, which Leib- 

 nitz calls monads, — Bonnet, ^^'ras, — and BuF- 

 FON, organic particles or molecules. 



So far, these eminent Philosophers agree, though 

 differing considerably when descending to detail, 

 excepting that they all somewhat approach to a 

 system of fatalism ; and Leibnitz, the most, de- 

 nying the existence of cause and effect, and sub- 

 stituting for them what he calls harmony, — a crea- 

 ture of his fancy, that does not seem to be very 

 intelligible. None of them account for the pro- 

 duction of hybrids or mules between different 

 species. Bonnet, who attempts it, is rather un- 

 successful, and, on his principles, would be equal- 

 ly embarrassed in accounting for either excesses 

 or deficiencies of organs in monsters* 



Instead of soaring on the wings of fancy into 

 these boundless regions conjecture, would it 



