tlie expanse of the earth’s surface, and to see there 
a creation of vegetables and animals, different from 
our own, all invested with forms, habits, and 
requirements, suited to, and supplied by, the pecu- 
liarities of the localities they inhabit, we are the 
better supplied with materials for reflection on 
the power and wisdom of a Divine Creator. 
These alpine plants are seen to much advantage 
when cultivated in pots, and brought beneath the 
eye, into one concentrated miscellaneous collection. 
Here the real lover of such subjects can contem 
plate their peculiarities, when they spread out their 
brilliant embroidery. However humble, they are 
no unimportant link in the chain of creation. 
Their im23ortance has been well expressed by 
Stillingfleet — 
“ How wondrous is the scene ! where all is form’d 
With number, weight, and measure ! all design’d 
For some great end ! where not alone the plant 
Of stately growth, the herb of glorious hue. 
Or food-full substance ; not the labouring steed. 
The herd, and flock that feed us ; not the mine 
That yields us stores for elegance and use, 
The sea that loads our table, and conveys 
The wanderer man from clime to clime, with all 
Those rolling spheres, that from on high shed down 
Their kindly influence j not these alone. 
Which strike ev’n eyes incurious; but each moss. 
Each shell, each crawling insect holds a rank 
Important in the plan of Him, who fram’d 
This scale of beings; holds a rank, which lost. 
Would break the chain, and leave behind a gap 
Which nature’s self would rue.” 
