wonderfully wrought such a substance, can neglect an intelligent creature, or be inattentive to any circum- 
stances of his existence; whether he, who has with perfect exactness adjusted the parts of dead matter to 
one another in the most trifling plant, must not be proportionably exact in what is of infinitely greater 
moment, — the adjustment of pain and pleasure to a human soul.” 
If unerring Wisdom so wonderfully manifests itself in the government of corporeal nature, what har- 
mony may we not reckon upon in the direction of the intellectual world! What care and accuracy in 
disposing the states of individuals ! What grandeur of plan, what perfection of order! Such are the con- 
clusions which we are amply justified in forming from the wisdom discoverable in the whole creation. They 
are most consolatory, and perfectly consonant with the language of inspiration: "Consider the lilies of the 
field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the 
field, which to day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of 
little faith ?” How animating was the effect produced by similar impressions on the mind of Mungo Park. 
He found himself in the midst of a vast wilderness, surrounded by savage animals, and by men still more 
savage. He was five hundred miles from the nearest European settlement, and, considering his fate as 
certain, he thought that he had no alternative, but to lie down and perish. At this moment the extra- 
ordinary beauty of a small moss irresistibly caught his eye, and, though the whole plant was not larger than 
the end of one of his fingers, he could not contemplate the delicate formation of its roots, leaves, and 
capsules, without admiration. Can that Being, thought he, who planted, watered, and brought to perfection 
in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small importance, look with unconcern upon 
the situation and sufferings of creatures formed after his own image? Thoughts like these would not allow 
him to despair. He started up, assured that relief was at hand, and he was not disappointed. 
This striking anecdote forcibly recurred to my recollection during a solitary ramble on the seashore, 
while observing the lolium arenaria, or sea-mat, growing on a bank of sand; and considering how wonder- 
fully this valuable plant was adapted to its place of growth, and designed to answer the most important 
purposes. 
It was a beautiful evening. The mighty waters rushed impetuously to the beach, and again receded, 
as if they heard the fiat of Omnipotence proclaim, that so far should they go, and no farther. The sun 
was setting amid clouds of gold and purple, and seemed to be passing through the portals of the heavens 
into some unknown world of glory. The nearest waves boiled in fine undulations, and reflected as they 
passed the dazzling radiance of his beams. In the distance, a deep sleeping mist gave to the blue fluctuating 
ocean an awful character of grandeur and extent. All was still in earth and air; not a single moving object 
met the eye. I seemed to breathe alone, surrounded by the immensity of creation. At length the moon 
arose in peerless majesty, and threw her silver mantle over the vast expanse of waters. It was a moment 
of deep feeling. Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him! I turned to the lolium arenaria , and i 
felt that the care of the Creator was extended to the lowliest of his works. 
The train of ideas which had been thus pleasingly excited, still continued to occupy my mind, and led = 
me to consider, as I returned home, how various kinds of plants are adapted to the sites they occupy, and !', 
the wants of the inhabitants. 
It would be extremely interesting to divide the vegetable world into a natural classification; pointing j 
out the various plants which in their medical and nutritious qualities are particularly appropriated to the j 
use of man; those which are confined to the animal world ; and such as afford food and shelter to an infinite ; 
variety of insect tribes. "Behold,” said the Eternal, in the benediction which he bestowed on our universal j 
parent, "I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree: 
and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the j 
earth, I have given every green herb for meat.” Such were the various uses which the great Creator j 
assigned to the vegetable tribes, whilst at the same time he conferred on man the dominion of the whole | 
creation. Linnaeus has endeavoured to fill up the general outline; and judging that the various grasses and j 
other plants, on which domesticated animals subsist, may be considered as subservient to the wants of man, 
he has appropriated to his use eight or nine hundred plants, the produce of his native country. Of these 
the cow consumes two hundred and eighty-six, in her usual pasturage; rejecting one hundred and eighty- 
four. The goat, four hundred and eighty-eight; rejecting ninety-two. The sheep, four hundred and seven- 
teen; rejecting one hundred and twelve. The horse, two hundred and seventy-eight; rejecting two hundred I 
and seven. The hog, one hundred and seven; rejecting one hundred and ninety. In this collection the 
plants which the animals eat with avidity are alone enumerated, with those which they carefully avoid; all 
the rest are indifferent, or eaten from necessity. 
