150 
RELATIONS. 
which would take an observer’s attention, as most plainly 
evincing a construction, directed by thought, deliberation, 
and contrivance ? It is the suitableness of these parts to 
one another; first, in the succession and order in which 
they act; and, secondly, with a view to the effect finally 
produced. Thus, referring the spring to the wheels, he 
sees in it that which originates and upholds their mo¬ 
tion; in the chain, that which transmits the motion to the 
fusee; in the fusee, that which communicates it to the 
wheels: in the conical figure of the fusee, if he refei back 
again to the spring, he sees that which corrects the ine¬ 
quality of its force. Referring the wheels to one another, 
he notices, first, their teeth, which would have been without 
use or meaning, if there had been only one wheel, or if the 
wheels had had no connexion between themselves, or com¬ 
mon bearing upon some joint effect; secondly, the corres¬ 
pondency of their position, so that the teeth of one wheel 
catch into the teeth of another; thirdly, the proportion ob¬ 
served in the number of teeth of each wheel, which de¬ 
termines the rate of going. Referring the balance to the 
rest of the works, he saw, when he came to understand its 
action, that which rendered their motions equable. Lastly, 
in looking upon the index and face of the watch, he saw 
the use and conclusion of the mechanism, viz. marking the 
succession of minutes and hours; but all depending upon 
the motions within, all upon the system of intermediate 
actions between the spring and the pointer. What thus 
struck his attention in the several parts of the watch, he 
might probably designate by one general name of “rela¬ 
tion; ” and observing with respect to all cases whatever, 
in which the origin and formation of a thing could be as¬ 
certained by evidence, that these relations were found in 
things produced by art and design, and in no other things, 
he would rightly deem of them as characteristic of such 
productions.—To apply the reasoning here described to the 
works of nature. 
The animal economy is full; is made up of these rela¬ 
tions :— 
I. There are, first, what in one form or other belong to all 
animals, the parts and powers which successively act upon 
their food. Compare this action with the process of a 
manufactory. In men and quadrupeds, the aliment is 
first broken and bruised by mechanical instruments of 
mastication, viz. sharp spikes or hard knobs, pressing 
against or rubbing upon one another: thus ground and 
comminuted, it is carried by a pipe into the stomach, where 
