TO INANIMATE NATURE. 
.67 
gans, and the properties of our atmosphere, are made for 
one another. Nor does it alter the relation, whether you 
allege the organ to be made for the element, (which seems 
the most natural way of considering it,) or the element a3 
prepared for the organ. 
IV. But there is another fluid with which we have to do; 
with properties of its own; with laws of acting, and of be¬ 
ing acted upon, totally different from those of air and water: 
and that is light. To this new, this singular element; to 
qualities perfectly peculiar, perfectly distinct and remote 
from the qualities of any other substance with which we 
are acquainted, an organ is adapted, an instrument is cor¬ 
rectly adjusted, not less peculiar amongst the parts of the 
body, not less singular in its form, and in the substance of 
which it is composed, not less remote from the materials, 
the model, and the analogy of any other part of the animal 
frame, than the element to which it relates is specific 
amidst the substances with which we converse. If this 
does not prove appropriation, I desire to know what would 
prove it. 
Yet the element of light and the organ of vision, how 
ever related in their office and use, have no connexion 
whatever in their original. The action of rays of light 
upon the surfaces of animals, has no tendency to breed eyes 
in their heads. The sun might shine forever upon living 
bodies, without the smallest approach towards producing the 
sense of sight. On the other hand also, the animal eye 
does not generate or emit light. 
V. Throughout the universe there is a wonderful pro - 
portioning of one thing to another. The size of animals, 
of the human animal especially, when considered with re¬ 
spect to other animals, or to the plants which grow around 
him, is such, as a regard to his conveniency would have 
pointed out. A giant or a pigmy could not have milked 
goats, reaped corn, or mowed grass; we may add, could 
not have rode a horse, trained a vine, shorn a sheep, with 
the same bodily ease as we do, if at all. A pigmy would 
have been lost amongst rushes, or carried off by birds of 
prey. 
It may be mentioned likewise, that the model and the 
materials of the human body being what they are, a much 
greater bulk would have broken down by its own weight. 
The persons of men who much exceed the ordinary stat¬ 
ure, betray this tendency. 
VI. Again (and which includes a vast variety of partic¬ 
ulars, and those of the greatest importance;) how close is 
