198 
LAVAtER’s 
ESSAY XXIV 
On Vegetables. 
A THINKING man cannot look about him 
without feeling curious to know the fates of all 
living creatures, particularly thofe who contribute 
moft to his comfort and entertainment. Hence 
arifes an anxious concern to penetrate the fecrets 
of Nature upon an extenfive fcale ; but let not felf- 
love miflead us to conceive too high an opinion of 
ourfelves, when we confider the various furrounding 
obje 61 s which attract our attention, and deferve ad- 
miration. 
Thus, if plants do not poffefs all the moving figns 
or geflures peculiar to animals, they fpeak an elo- 
quent language at every period when they renew 
their exillence, and difplay frefli beauties in tender 
branches, leaves, or bloffoms, proclaiming their re- 
fpeftive parents. We need not dwell on the many 
changes that they undergo. Let it fuffice for 
us to retrace fome of the fenfations raifed by 
this lovely part of the creation, already divided into 
thirty thoufand claffes, and diftinguiflied by the 
different impreflions which they make on our 
minds. 
Do 
