63 



LETTEE IV. 



INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



DIRECT INJURIES. 



In the letter which I devoted to the defence of Entomology, 

 I gave you reason to expect, more effectually to obviate the 

 objection drawn from the supposed insignificance of insects, 

 that I should enter largely into the question of their im- 

 portance to us both as instruments of good and evil. This I 

 shall now attempt ; and, as I wish to leave upon your mind 

 a pleasant impression with respect to my favourites, I shall 

 begin with the last of these subjects — the injury which they 

 do to us. 



The Almighty ordains various instruments for the punish- 

 ment of offending nations : sometimes he breaks them to 

 pieces with the iron rod of war ; at others the elements are 

 let loose against them ; earthquakes and floods of fire, at his 

 word, bring sudden destruction upon them ; seasons un- 

 friendly to vegetation threaten them with famine ; the blight 

 and mildew realise these threats ; and often, the more to 

 manifest and glorify his power, he employs means, at first 

 sight, apparently the most insignificant and inadequate to 

 effect their ruin; the numerous tribes of insects are his 

 armies^, marshalled by him, and by his irresistible command 

 impelled to the work of destruction : where he directs them 

 they lay waste the earth, and famine and the pestilence often 

 follow in their train. 



The generality of mankind overlook or disregard these 

 powerful, because minute, dispensers of punishment; seldom 

 considering in how many ways their welfare is affected by 

 them ; but the fact is certain, that should it please God to 

 give them a general commission against us, and should he ex- 

 cite them to attack, at the same time, our bodies, our clothing, 

 our houses, our cattle, and the produce of our fields and gar- 



1 Joe], ii. 25. 



