14.6 Mr. s meath man’s Account of 
and fubftances which only incumber the furfaee of. the earthy , 
they may he juftly fuppofedvery ofefuL and for. the, reaien thai 
they are. in .one: fenfe mofl . pernicious,., they ate in the other moftf 
ufeful. In this refpect they reiemble very much the common Flies, 
which are regarded Fy mankind in , general as noxious* and at 
bed: as ufelefs beings - in the creation ; but this is certainly for 
want of confideration. . There are not probably in all i nature 
animals of more importance, and, it would hot be • difficult? to.- 
prove, that? werftrould feel the want of one or two fpecies- 
of large quadrupeds, much lefs than of one or two fpecies 
ofthefe defpicable-looking . infefts.- Mankind in general are 
fenfible that, nothing is more difagreeable, or more pefti- 
ferous,. than putrid Tuhilances ; ; and it is apparent , to alii 
who have made obfervation, that thofe little inlcfts contri- 
bute more to the; quick? dilution and difperfiom of, pu— 
trefcent matter than any other*' They are . f© neceftary, in all 
bet climates,. that eyen in the open fields a,. dead animal or ; 
fmall putrid fubftance cannot be laid upon the ground two mi- - 
notes before it will be covered with Flies and their Maggots,, 
which indantly entering , quickly , devour one part,? and per- 
forating the reft in warions directions* expofe, the . whole to be ■> 
much fooner diffipatediby the elements. , Thus it is with the , Ter- - 
mites ; the. rapid vegetation in hot climates, of which no idea can : 
be formed by- any thing to, be feen in this* is equalled by as great ; 
a degree of deft ruftion from natural as well as, accidental caufesM, ... 
It feems apparent,., that when any thing whatever is arrived 
at its laft degree of perfection, the Creator has decreed, it fhall .. 
( 4 ) The Guinea grafs, wbith ; is: fo well known and fa nuich'efteemed by our • 
planters- in the Weft Indies, grows in-Mrica thirteen feet high upon an average, 
which height it attains in about five or fi&iroonths -3 and.the growth .of many other 
plants is as quicks 
