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it not thus become fitted for the reception of beings of higher suscep- 
tibilities and powers ? — But, checking this propensity to indulge in 
vain, and, perhaps dangerous, conjectures, we will return to inquiries 
rather more within the reach of reason ; premising only one obser- 
vation, intended to render more striking the necessity of difiident 
caution, whilst employing our limited powers of judgment, on any 
point which involves the knotty question of the origin of evil. How 
derogatory from the dignity and omnipotence of the Creator, might a 
presumptuous and short-sighted caviller say, is the unfinished con- 
dition of great part of the creation, requiring the aid of art to effect 
the full evolution of its powers ? — not a plant, nor an animal, is 
there scarcely which exists, but in its natural state is so far from per- 
fection, as to require the greatest care and culture, to procure the 
full display of its beauties, and the developement of its various facul- 
ties. But, one more glance is sufficient to discover, that this appa- 
rent deficiency of power and judgment is a remarkable instance of 
the wisest adaptation of means to the producing of a most important 
end. For when it is considered, that the dominion of the earth is 
given to a being, endued with peculiar faculties, the preservation and 
improvement of which depend on their due exercise, it surely is not 
discordant with the correctest ideas of an arrangement, proceeding 
from consummate wisdom and unlimited power, thus to furnish that 
being with materials on which his abilities may be employed. 
On examining those vegetable remains which still displayed some 
traces of their original forms, appearances were discovered, which 
seemed to point out a great dissimilarity between some of the vege- 
tables of the former, and of the present world. So great did this 
dissimilarity appear, as to warrant the conclusion, that either many 
genera and species of vegetables, which existed in the former world, 
are now entirely lost, or remain secreted from us in some remote and 
hitherto unexplored part of the world. Reasoning by analogy, from 
the undoubted loss of several species, and even genera of animals, 
