on Sea-anemonies. 
57 
convinced me more and more (and I gave fome hints to 
that purpofe) that the fmalleft particle of a living ani- 
mal, has an organization which far exceeds every idea 
we can conceive of it ; and which, from the extreme mi- 
nutenefs of thofe particles, baffles our clofeft infpeCtion : 
fo that inftead of being furprized at the lingular effedts 
of reproduction, they are rather what we ought to ex- 
pe£f, and be prepared to obferve as they arife. I': is with 
this view that I have continued my experiments and ob- 
fervations: they have confirmed the difcoveries I had 
made, and afforded me an opportunity to juftify fome 
eminent men, whole affertions concerning the multipli- 
cation of the frefh-water polypi by fe&ions, have met 
with the rrloft unmerited contradictions. 
Among all the objects which nature offers to the con- 
templative mind, there is none fo ftriking and important 
as that of the generation of beings, and efpecially of ani- 
mated 
me perfuadoit de plus en plus, et je m’en expliquai, que les moindres parties d’un 
etre vivant ont une organifation qui furpaffe infiniment l’idee que nous pouvons 
nous en faire, que l’enorme petitefTe de ces parties derobe aux regards les plus 
avides ; et que loin de fe furprendre des effets iinguliers de reproduction, on 
devroit pour ainfi dire les attendre, et fe mettre a portee de les faifir. C’eft dans 
cette viie que j’ai continue mes obfervations et mes experiences : elks ont con- 
firme les decouvertes que j’avois faites, et me procurent la fatisfaCtion de jufxifier 
les hommes illukres, qui en nous faifant connoitre la multiplication des polypes 
d’eau douce par la fe&ion, ont eprouve les contradictions les moins meritees. 
De tous les objets que la nature offre a l’efprit meditatif, il n’en eft point c!c 
plus grand, de plus refpeCtable, que celui de la generation des etres, et furtout dr 5 
Vol. LXVII. I " etres 
