He who is disposed to view the natural objects and 
phenomena amidst which he lives with a mind void of 
preconception, will inevitably discover that while all things 
do indeed conspire to the fulfilment of certain general laws 
which pervade Creation, they likewise in themselves exhibit 
those laws which are attached to them by the circumstances 
of their respective localities. —It is only in the present day 
that this truth is becoming sufficiently evident, and conse¬ 
quently it now especially behoves each naturalist to make 
known the productions and phenomena of his own neigh¬ 
bourhood ; for it is only by allowing knowledge to be drawn 
to one great centre that we shall be competent to decide 
what are general, and what are local or partial laws. 
Men boast too commonly of their acquaintance with laws 
and principles, but, as these are so all-important to be ac¬ 
quired, it will be needful for them to determine on those 
which apply only to localities before they can arrive at 
those which regulate nature as a whole. —The earth, forming 
a part of the system of the universe, and governed by the 
general laws which regulate the revolutions of the heavenly 
bodies, does also perform within its own economy, move¬ 
ments and actions peculiar to itself; let it now further be 
resolved how far, and by what precise means, the different 
portions of our Creation in their respective situations are 
governed by local ordinances, whilst at the same time they 
respond harmoniously to those decrees which preside over 
the world of matter. 
