154 
BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 
as we find them in the old red sandstone, or the chalk, 
or the carboniferous rocks, and shall we not call them 
out own fossils ? See again in this case in which death 
has been very busy (for plants of large growth soon 
perish in the absence of sunshine, and occasional 
attendant accidents will carry off some of the finny pets), 
how life has been equally active on the other side, 
for such an aquarium will be a hundred times richer 
in those spontaneous growths we have already spoken of, 
and visible forms of infusoria and true zoophytes will 
abound, and every class will be more fully represented, 
down even to the twilight monad. 
Though this paper must have an end, there is no end to 
the teaching of the aquarium. It is a watery microcosm 
of living and dead wonders, and we need not marvel 
that the balance of life and death may be observed in its 
succession of changes, because all the physical forces 
of the universe are locked up within a single bead of dew, 
and all the functions of organic creation are comprised 
in the economy of monas termo. If God so ordains that 
life shall be constantly soaring from the tomb, if the 
story of the Phoenix ceases to be a fable, need man, the 
victim of doubts and fears, ever fail in his trust of that 
blessed promise, that “ this mortal shall put on im¬ 
mortality, and this corruptible shall put on incorruption?” 
Science may fix his mind on the appreciation of God's 
wisdom and power as he reads the handwriting of the 
Almighty in Nature, but through faith in another reve¬ 
lation must he hope to exclaim, triumphantly, “0 death, 
where is thy sting ? 0 grave, where is thy victory ?” 
Or, to pass from divine to human consolations, we may 
