whence the botanist can draw his gratifications. 
In considering the great number of plants thus 
united, as we have just seen, by such close affini- 
ties, yet each one distinct from its congener, the 
mind can but be strongly impressed with the mag- 
nificence of that design of the divine Creator, of 
which we here catch a glimpse, in the detail of so in- 
considerable a portion of his care. It must be kept 
in view that nature, in the aggregate, presents us with 
unity of design. We, usually, examine isolated 
scraps, to compare their differences; when, however, 
we consider that all creation is comprehended under 
one regularly graduated whole ; that it exhibits, step 
by step, a progressive developement, from the lowest 
quality of inorganic matter, up to man, the most per- 
fect of animated earthly creatures, how utterly inca- 
pable are we of tracing those gradations, and almost 
invisible distinctions, which lead from being to be- 
ing, through the ascending scale of creation. 
These considerations should be impressed on the 
mind of the young naturalist. None can compre- 
hend all the laws of nature, but the outline of her 
works is more obvious. We may read the index to 
her operations, although the details are not unfre- 
quently in secret characters. The whole may be 
seen as composed of an alphabet of simple ele- 
ments — elements which combine into matter, as let- 
ters into words; matter combines into beings, as 
words into sentences ; and again, as series of sen- 
tences make chapters, so series of beings constitute 
classes, and of these the incomprehensible book of 
creation is compiled, and perfected by the hand of 
the original Law-giver. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 1, 413. 
