The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-19 00:00:00

BURMESE STATE CARRIAGE.

Yesterday we visited the Tsiian Hall, Piccadilly, for
the purpose of obtaining a private view of the Imperial
Burmese Carriage, the public exhibition of which com-
mences on Monday. Independent of the splendour of this
magnificent vehicle, of which we shall presently speak, its
appearance in this country at the present moment is at-
tended with much additional and extrinsic interest. It is
the first specimen of the progress of the arts in a country of
the very existence of which we appeared to he oblivious
till recent and extraordinary events recalled it to our no-
tice. The map of Asia alone reminded us that an immense
portion of the vast tract of country lying between China
and our Indian possessions, and constituting the Eastern
Peninsula of India, was designated by the name of the
Burinah empire. But so little did we know of the people,
or the country they inhabited, that geographers were not
agreed upon the orthography of the name. The at-
tack upon Chittagong at length aroused our -atten-
tion to the concerns of this warlike people, when
one of the first intimations we received of their ex-
istence was the threat, after they had expelled us
from India, to invade England. Our soldiers found them-
selves engaged in a contest different from any they
hail before experienced in that part of the world, and with
a people who, to the impetuous bravery of savages, added all
the artifices f civilized warfare. IVe had to do with an
enemy of whose history and resources we knew absolutely
nothing. On those heads our information is still but
scanty. It is the information which " The Math," or im-
perial carriage, affords respecting the state of the mechanical
arts among the Burmese, that we consider particularly
curious and interesting.
At a first view the general effect of this vehicle is ex-
tremely striking. Many parts are of themselves heavy—
(for instance, the body, which ht an oblong square) but,
combined together, they afford a tout ensemble of great
richness and splendour. The carriage is—
" Rich with Bathetic pearl and gold,"
being gilt and silvered all over, and studded with
20,000 precious stones—such as the onyx, pearl, ruby,
emerald, sapphire, carbuncle, garnet, cornelian, diamond,
&c. The wheels are of particularly beautiful workman-
ship and of uniform height: combining lightness with
strength in no ordinary degree. The hotly is supported
and ornamented by dragons richly gilt—the scales of talc,
and the eyes of pale rubies. The carving of these figures
is really exquisite, and for force, delicacy. and finish, would
do no discredit to an European artist. Hecidetily the most
beautiful portion of this splendid work is the pagoda roof.
It composes a shrine, beneath which it well befits " the
Golden Monarch and Lord of the White Elephant" to sit.
The length of the carriage is thirteen feet seven inches ;
or, including the pole, which is formed of iron-wood and
remarkably massive, twenty-eight feet five inches. It is
in width six feet nine, and in height (the pagoda in-
clusive) nineteen feet two inches. The wheels, which are
about four feet, have the spokes beautifully formed, and
very richly silvered: the felloes are cased with brass, and
the caps are of bell-metal. The materials of the carriage,
with the exception of the wheels and pole, which latter is also
of iron-wood, are the wood of the sassafras tree. The body
of the vehicle is nearly square, and therefore, as we have
already observed, heavy and ungraceful in appearance. It
is composed of twelve panels, three on each side, and
the same number at the back and front. These are sub-
divided into small squares of transparent rhinoceros horn,
ornamented at the corners with convex glass mirrors.
The bottom of the carriage is composed of cane, and a
frame-work, also of cane, platted similarly to that used in
our chairs, &c. runs under the body. There are sashes
with plates of glass, after the European fashion ; they are
capable of being drawn up and down, as with us. The
springs, which are of iron richly gilt, are similar to the C
spring in general use in this country. Four peacocks,
two in front and two behind, decorate the body of
the carriage. On the fore-part of the frame, mounted on
a silvered pedestal, and in a kneeling position, is placed a
figure denominated the Tee bearer. lle holds a long gold
wand surmounted with the Tee—the emblem of sovereignty.
Behind are two figures, with. their lower extremities mi.-
, onsly tattooed. From the disproportionate length of their
arms, and other similar defects, it may be concluded that
the Burmese have as yet made little progress in statuary or
sculpture. In speaking of the windows of the carriage, we
ought to have remarked that the glass appears well made,
and, with the exception of one or two slight flaws or bub-
bles, nearly equal to that of European manufacture.
The pagoda roof which surenonnts the body of the coach
has already been spoken of as a splendid and graceful por-
tion of the design. It consists of seven stages, diminishing
in the most skilful and beautiful proportions towards the
top. The carving is highly beautiful, and the whole struct
ture is ret thick with stones anti gems of considerable value.
These add little to the effect when seen from below,
but ascending the gallery of the Hall, the spectator ob-
serves them, relieved by the yellow ground of the gilding,
and sparkling beneath him like dew-drops in a field of cow-
slips. Their presence in so elevated a situation well serve
to explain the accuracy of finish preserved throughout, even
iu the nicest anti most minute portions of the work. Gilt
metal bells, with large heart-shaped chrystal drops attached
to them, surround the lower stageof the pagotlai and, when
the carriage is put in motion, emit a soft and pleasing
sound. The seat or throne is extremely rich, and beau-
tifully ornamented with diamonds. It is moveable, as are
also the steps for ascending the carriage; his Burmese Ma-
jesty having objected to the European custom of having
a part so liable to be soiled as the steps, folded up, and put
withinside!

It will be perceived from the remarks already made, and
the space we have devoted to this article, that we consider
the present a highly curious and interesting exhibition.
We have little doubt that the public, when it has had an
opportunity of judging for itself, will be of a similar opi-
nion. There are several miscellaneous articles in the
apartment, principally consisting of Burmese musical in..
strutnents and weapons. Some of them are well worthy of
notice.

Our readers will scarcely need to be reminded that the
" Rath- was captured in September last year at 'covey, a
seaport in the Burmese Empire, by Lieutenant-Colonel
Miles. The estimated expense of the carriage is a lac of
rupees (12,3000

CONPLAGRATIOXIS Itv NoaTtt AMEIICA.--The vast
power of the fires in the American forests may be judged
of by the extent of the smoke, which has been perceived
over an extent of country, the extremes of which are at
least ten degrees of latitude distant from one another.—
Extract of a letter dated Hallowell, Maine, Oct. 10 :—" Our
whole country is on fire, more or less, fer above 100 miles.
We have lost 150 acres of wood in Ripley and three neigh.
bouring towns; 21 houses and 23 barns are burnt; Exeter
almost destroyed ; in Monmouth It haystacks (300 tons)
are burnt I rode last week 30 miles through the devasta-
tion. The most awful sight of the kind I ever beheld; the
fire advanced a mild in four hours, and, for 43 minutes,
nearly two roods per minute."
ExT/ystvE FIRE IN FRANCE.—The frightful fire
which has just reduced to ashes a part of the commune of
Vizille (department of the Isere) began at one in the
morning on the 10th instant, in a printing.office attached
to M. Augustin Perrier's manufactory of coloured cottons.
The tempest which prevailed through that disastrous night
extended the fire with dreadful rapidity. The chateau
belonging to M. Perrier, and all the manufactory, have
fallen a prey to the flames. Forty houses of the town
have been entirely consumed, of which number twenty-
two were but just rebuilt in the quarter, called that of the
Chateau de Paille, which only two years ago was burnt
down. The engines of Grenoble and a detachment of the
garrison arrived at eight o'clock in the morning, and as-
sists] to confine the ravages of the fire, which they began
to subdue on all sides by eleven o'clock. Nobody perished
in this conflagration, but many of the labourers were
wounded. The damage done is estimated at about two mil-
lions (of francs). The buildings of the manufactory were
insured. The valuable cotton spinning works, with the
webs, owe their safety to the wind having blown in an
opposite direction, but the loss of the manufactory of
coloured cottons is immense ; it will deprive of employment,
during the winter, 1,200 workmen, of whom some were
proprietors of the buildings which have been consumed,
to whom remains no source but to implore the charity of
their fellow-citizens. A play has already been performed
for their benefit at the Grenoble Theatre, and a subscrip-
tion opened for their relief.—Etuile uf

DRITISII PRESS.

COMBINATION MANIA.

It is curious to remark that diseases in the body politic,
as in the natural body, seem to bresk out and to become
epidemic at intervals. The combination system, which has
of late raged so extensively, exhibited itself with somewhat ot
the same sort of mania in the year 1768, the period at which
we find the system first regularly organized. It appears from
the newspapers of that clay, that the year 1768 commenced
with:a display of the turbulence of WEAV sus, who went well
armed to the houses of other journeymen in the same busi-
ness, called single-handed Weavers, to revenge the injuries
asserted to have been inflicted by them on the engine-loom
Weavers, where they secured several, and conveyed them
to a Magistrate ; and it appeared on examination their
complaints were well founded, as they proved the prisoners
and their brethren had even fired into their windows.
Others in April, armed with cutlasses, pistols, &c. and in
disguise, went at twelve o'clock at night to the residences of
several journeymen in Spitalfields ; and cut to pieces six-
teen looms, with their contents, which belonged to Messrs.
Everard and Phipps. On a subsequent nocturnal excur-
sion those miscreants narrowly escaped from a party of
soldiers who had nearly surrounded them unperceived.
Influenced by the above pernicious examples, the COAL-
HEAVERS of the Metropolis entered into combinations be-
fore the end of April ; and collecting in considerable num-
bers, went through Wapping, and thence on board of col-
liers, where, with weapons in hand, they compelled their
sable brethren to desist from working, and even dangerously
wounded several. In this instance the military prevented
greater outrages.
In May a large body of SAIT.Ons, with drums and flags,
proceeded in two divisions to St. James's Palace, and pre-
sented a petition to the King, praying for an increase of
their pay in consideration of the high price of provisions.
On the 10th of the same month, anti at four o'clock in the
morning, many boats, manned bySailors and Coal-heavers,
entered upon a survey of the wharfs above l3lackfriars-
bridge, and compelled all they found at work to join them ;
others patroled the streets. and collected those who were
at home and in public-houses ; when they began their ope-
rations
by forcing the drivers of carts and waggons loaded
with coals, flour, and wood, to return whence they came.
After this operation hail been completely accomplished,
they marched in a body, increasing as they went, to Step-
ney-fields, whence parties of them proceeded to unrig such
vessels as they chose to prevent from sailing. The fra-
ternity of SAWYERS, equally refractory, destroyed an ex-
cellent saw-mill then recently erected by CHARLES DING-
Ely, Esq. almost at the same instant.
The JOURNEYMEn TAILORS soon after caught the com-
bination-fever, and collected, in humble imitation of the
Seamen, in Lincoln's-inn-fields, to proceed with a petition
for redress of their sewing grievances. They too had leaders,
and to those the Magistrates applied successfully in dis-
suading them from their purpose; but unfortunately they
were unable to manage the many-headed monster; how-
ever, after some exertion, and by a little address, the Ma-
gistrates contrived to prevail on them to entrust the peti-
tion to a deputation of ; and the rest dispersed.
Although the COAL-HEAVERS and Jailors appear to have
acted at the commencement under the influence of the
same Caine, an attempt to obtain an increase of wages, they
had become inveterate enenii•?s before the middle of June,
and actually fought with such rancour as to use swords and
fire-arms ; the consequence of which was many wounds.
and several deaths inflicted by each party; and newspapers
even assert that seven soldiers and a sergeant lost their lives
in attempting to quell a riot in IVepping, when twenty of
the aggressors were killed.
The last disgraceful act of this turbulent era was marked
with additional depravity: a set of Semite.' tens Wrs-
yeas had constituted themselves a deliberative body, and
decreed that all Possessors of looms should send them a tar
offair shillings each. Their place of rendezvous was the
dolphin in Cock-lane, and their denomination the " Cut-
ters;" and, justly (heading the consequences of their con-
duct, they were proviticd with swords and fire-arms, to
defend themselves, and intimidate those to whom they
wrote. A Mr. Hut received from them the following
Order, which he exhibited to the Magistrates at Bow-
street in October 1769:—" Mr. Hitt, you are desired to
send the full donation of all your looms to the Dot must
in Cock-lane. This from the conquering and bold Defiance
to be levied four shillings per loom. A summons was issued
to Me keeper of Me Dolphin, which that person disobeyed.
Officers were then despatched to ascertain whether the
Callers hid really assembled ; and oath having been made
that they were sitting, a warrant to search the house was
issued, and a Magistrate, several officers of the Police, and
a party of Soldiers, went to execute it between eight and
nine o'clock in the evening. They found this diabolical
assembly in full progress, receiving the contributions of
terrified manufacturers; a terrible conflict ensued; one
soldier was shot dead, and the miscreants fled over the
house tops; but four were apprehended. A detachment
of the Guards afterwards did duty in the neighbourhood,
and had their quarters in the Parish-church. This pre-
caution terminated the operations of the Cutters.
Happily, the present destructive plague in the manufac-
turing world seems now very generally subsiding; the pro-
gress of its contagion has, however, been extremely remark-
able. We trust that when it shall have again disappeared,
this kingdom will never witness its return.

NEW CHURCH AT WEEDON.—III our account of the re-
building the Church of Wectlon Beck, Northamptonshire,
in the British Press of Thursday. the name of J. H. Hurst
was, by mistake, inserted for T. H. Hunt ; we are anxious
to correct this typographical error, as the benefits derived
to the parish are wholly to be attributed to the indefati-
gable exertions of this excellent clergyman. When he took
possession of this living, it was found that for a population
of 1178 persons there was accommodation in the church
for only 289 ; and although the parish abounds with poor,
only forty-nine sittings were appropriated to their use. By
Lis means the church has been rebuilt, and is capable of
providing seats for 750 persons. This is one among the
many instances which exemplify the value of the labours of
the Society for promoting the enlargement and building of
' churches and chapels.
EDUCATION IN INDIA..--There are now in a course of
education, under the auspices of the East India Company,
in Bengal, about 12,000 boys, anti a tenth of that number
of girls. A most able paper has been lately written in
India by Mr. Elphinstone, on the most humane and libe-
ral principles, recommending the education of the natives
for Revenue and Judicial offices. The intelligent author
looks forward to the association of the natives in civil offices,
' with a view to both their intellectual and moral improve-
ment ; and to forming, by their means, a counter-
poise to the half-castes, or future Eurpean colonists, whose
superior acquirements would otherwise give them the mo-
nopoly of office. Thus it is, that, with a far-sighted pru-
dence, we endeavour to promote the gradual advancement
of those nations which are united with us as allies, or look
up to us for protection.
SINGULAR FRAUD.—A short time ago a Scotchman,
named Edward Norris, called upon some respectable indi-
viduals of this town to solicit relief, under the pretence
of being ont of employ, and having had a child burnt to
death. Being successful in his applications, he was deter-
mined to pursue his plan somewhat further ; and a few
days afterwards called upon Mr. Adams, one of the persons
who already relieved him, stating that his wife had died
in a lodging-house at Barnwell, and he was unable to bury
her. Mr. Adams, expressing some doubt of the truth of his
story, offered to accompany the porter, who was directed
to go to the lodging-house, to ascertain the fact. On their
arrival at the house, Norris told the porter to wait at the
door a moment, whilst he asked the mistress to let him see
the corpse. In about a minute a woman came out, and
told the porter that Norris's wife was dead, but the corpse
was in such a state, that he probably would not like to see
it ; however, she would go with him to Mr. Adams, and
explain all the circumstances. The porter therefore re-
turned to his master, accompanied by the woman and Nor-
ris, when Mr. Adams gave some money to the latter. It
was afterwards suggested to Mr. Adams diat he had been
imposed upon, and he accordingly ordered Norris and the
woman to be taken before the Mayor, when it was disco-
vered that the woman who had represented herself to be
the mistress of the lodging-house, was the wife of Norris,
whom he had stated to be lying dead at the time. Norris
was consequently committed to the town gaol, to undergo
the discipline of the tread-wheel for a month.—Cambridge
Chrenide.

LITERART GLEANINGS.

No. lan.

ON INSTINCT.
[Concluded from the British Press of yesterday.]
INSTINCT, then, may exist separately from both per.
ception and sensation. I will add to this imperfect sketch
a few examples, in which it will be obvious to every one
that it may exist also in conjunction with each of these
principles.
And first as to its union with sensation. Wherever a
nervous system is to he traced, which alone is the source of
sensation, we have abundant proofs of such an alliance.
We meet with it, without having any adequate language
by which to describe it, in the pleasurable glow and elasti-
II city of health,—in the satisfaction of a cheerful meal,—ln
the painful sense of fatigue,—and in the refreshment of
sound and natural sleep, by which this painful sense Is
overcome. And we meet with it still more strongly marked
in all those natural emotions of love of life and dread of
death, the economy of pairing and attachment to offspring,
1 which, in consequence of such alliance, have obtained, at:
already noticed, the popular name of instinctive sensations.
Let us select a few examples.
We are told by GALEN, that, on opening a goat big with
young, he found one of the young ones alive, which he
hastily snatched up, and took into a room where there
were various vessels severally filled for the purpose with
wine, oil, honey, milk, grains, and fruits. The little kid
first rose upon its feet, and walked ; then shook itself, and
scratched its side with one of its hoofs ; it next smelt, in
succession, at all the dishes before it, and at last fixed
upon and licked up the milk. In this case, the sense of
smell went directly in aid of the instinctive search after
food, and determined the particular kind. So that the
instinct and the sensation co-operated.
Thus rabbits, when left to the operation of pure instinct,
dig holes in the ground for warmth and protection ; but,
after being for some time in a domestic state, and finding
that they can obtain a more comfortable asylum by other
means and with less labour, they seldom pursue, even
when they have an opportunity, the instinctive process,
but burrow in the straw, or whatever other material is
provided for them. In this case, the sense of superior
comfort combines itself, as in the preceding case, with the
operative instinct, and the same end is pursued, though by
a change of means.

So, again, the young of all animals, in whatever way
they take their foot!, are at first stimulated by instinct
alone. The lamb sucks, the chicken pecks, and the nestling
of the sparrow gapes. In like manner, be mother at first
secretes or selects it from an instinctive excitement alone.
The udder of the dam swells and becomes painful; the
crop of the pigeon does the same; and there are some
birds, whose common food is grain, that during this season
devour for their young spiders and other insects„ which
nothing could induce them to touch at any other time. '
%What follows from this simple exercise of instinctive
power, is well worthy of notice. This sweet intercourse
of natural action soon lays a foundation for a something
that, by degrees, shows 'itself to be superior to simple in-
stinct, though it has often, but erroneously, been so de-
nominated. The young of two different mothers, if
interchanged as soon as they are born or hatched, are as sa-
tisfied with the foster, or supposititious, as with the natural
parent: and the mothers, unless made suspicious of the
deception, are as satisfied with their foster or supposititious
young. But let the same interchange be attempted a
numth or two afterwards, and in no case will it succeed.
Short as has been the intervening period, it has sufficed to
produce a birth of feeling, as well as a growth of form ;
the rising sense has united itself with the already mature
instinct; and the natural nurse, and the natural nursling,
will pine equally, if separated from each other. The mere
instinct of this early age belongs to such early age alone ;
but the feeling which follows so close upon it, and to
which it may in some sort be said to have given birth, is
of a higher order, and continues for a much longer period
of time ; and for a period of time, indeed, directly pro-
portioned to its intensity,—or, in other words, to the as-
cending rank of sentiment or percipient life in which it
makes its appearance.
Hence, in the two lowest classes of animals, we meet
with nothing of the sort whatever; the young of insects
and worms having a foreign food provided for them, with-
out the immediate intervention of the mother: and hence
too, in quudrupeds and birds, the feeling progressively dies
away, as the young become independent: while, in MAN,
we behold the principle of intelligence in its most lovely
' and interesting character, —a moral and internal feeling,—
a sense of gratitude and veneration on the one side, of
keen complacency and delight on the other, and of active
' affection on both,—catching hold of the two preceding
principles, and producing a strong cord of interunion, that
can never be broken but with the cords of the heart itself.
' In these cases, we see examples of all the three princi-
ples—instinct, sensation, and intelligence, in a state of
union ; and we occasionally meet with still more extraor-
dinary examples of the same fact. One of the most
extraordinary, perhaps, is that related by Mr. GILBERT
IVHITE, in his very interesting " History of Selborne," of
the gratitude anti affection of a young hare towards a cat,
by which it had been suckled anti brought up ; the leveret
following the cat about the garden, playing with her like a
kitten, and bounding towards her when purring or uttering
any other call of tenderness.
We see also something of the same kind of internal feel-
, ing, and often exalted to a still higher pitch, in the grati-
tude and affection of the fond and faithful dog for a kind
and indulgent master; occasionally, indeed, rising superior
to, and strikingly triumphing over, the strongest instinc-
tive feelings of the animal frame,—over thirst, hunger, and
the love of life itself ; and inciting him to perish volunta-
rily by the side of his master, and share his grave, rather
than abandon his corse, when, in the course of a solitary
journey, he has suddenly fallen a victim to accident or vio-
lence. Of this the late BisitOP or LA NDA Fr, in his very
interesting Life, has noticed a very singular example ; who
tells us that, two months after the disappearance of a man
that had perished on the top of Helvellyn, his body was
found, anti his faithful dog was still sitting by it; and to
this he adds an anecdote told him by the DUKE or NORTH'.
lIMBERLAND, concerning a young antelope that died by a
tall, whose mother immediately quitted the pasture in
which she was feeding, sat piteously by the side of the
body, which she refused to quit, and died herself of grief
anti hunger.
And not unfrequently we meet with instances of the
union of intelligence alone with instinct alone, no moral or
internal feeling being necessary. The rook usually and
instinctively builds his nest in the tallest branches of the
tallest trees; but in Welbourn church-yard a rookery was
not long since formed on the outside of the church-spire,
and the tops of its loftiest windows. There had formerly
been a row or grove of trees in the ne.jghbourhood ; hut
they had been cut down, and their aerial tenants, being
thus dispossest of their proper mansion, had betaken them-
selves to the church-spire and windows, as the most ap-
propriate building for their purpose; and had thus mani-
festly evinced an alliance of instinct with intelligence,—
with contrivance suited to the occasion.

So the jack-daws of Selburn, according to Mr. White,
not finding a sufficiency of towers and steeples, and lofty
house, on which they had usually hung their nests in this
pleasant village, accommodated themselves to the occasion,
and built them in forsaken rabbit-burrows.

The ostrich is accused of a total-
want of natural feeling,
because she abandons her eggs to be hatched by the heat
of the sun. Where incubation is necessary, however, the
ostrich instinctively employs it ; and that, too, in conjunc-
tion with an intelligence which is reedy evinced by other
birds. Thus, in Senegal, where the heat is still great, she
relinquishes her eggs during the day, but sits upon them
through the chill of the night ; and at the Cape of Good
Hope, where the heat is lens considerable, she sits upon
them, like other birds, both day and night. The Cuckow,
in like manner, is well known to be too indolent to build
where she can find a nest ready-made, snd usually deposits
her eggs in that of the hedge-sparrow ; but, where no pro-
per nest can be procured already formed for her use, she
constructs fur herself, and incubates her young. In like
manner, ducks and geese, though not renowned for sagacity,
cover up their eggs when they quit them, till their return
to the nest ; and there are few birds that do not turn and
shift their eggs at different periods of the tedious process
of incubation, so as to give an (Anal degree of warmth to
every part.
I have Already observed, that issray in general deposit

their eggs in places admirably suited to the future wawa
of the nascent larva's, and then for ever like leave kftbeg
embeyon-progeny ; but the common car-wik bioids over
her young like a ben, and only suits theni at night, the
urual period in which this genus flies in pursuit of food or
recreation.

Among migratory birds, it is not very uncem mon for the
mater alone to dare the dangers of a divine: voyage, and to
leave the females behind them ; but, in the rkefive/t, we
occasionally find this rule inverted ; for the female
chaffinches of Sweden quit their males, and migrate to
Holland towards the winter, and duly return to them in
the spring; while many of the males indulge a proftiund
sleep during that greater period of their absence.
Most vegelal4s indulge in a winter-steep of the,saine
kind, but there are some that sleep still longer. Tbus the
tuberose root of the ferraria, an ornamental herbaceous
plant of the Cape of Good Hope, remains torpid every al-
ternate year, and sometimes continues in this state for two
years together, without putting forth either leaf or fibre.
The general corollary, then, resulting fromtheseobserva-
tions, is as follows ; that instinct, as already defined, is
the operation of the principle of organised lffe,.by the ex-
ercise of certain natural powers directed to "the'present or
the future good of the individual ; while asap:kis is the ques-
tion of the principle of intellectual life, by the exercise of cer-
tain acquired powers directed to the snow object. That it ap-
pertains to the whole organised mass, as grayitation does to
the whole nnorganiaed ; equally actuating the tenth:it jvnil
the largest, portions, the minutest particles and tha. bul-
kiest systems, every organ, and evet y part of every oval.
whether solid or fluid, so long as it continues alive. 'Plats
like gravitation, it exhibilliiiander partieular circetnistandkii,
different modifkations, D'.4terent powers, end different
effects; hut th 4 like gityltition too it is subjeWto its
own peculiar division of laws, to which, uoderdefinite eir..
cumstances, it adheres without the smallest deviation ; and
that its sole and uniform lien, whcfher acting generally or
locally, is that of perfection, presetvallon, or reproduction.
Of its mode of existenceive knots bathing: but as,iittle
do we know of the principle of gravitation or of mind.
We can only assure ourselves that they ire distinct powers,
—perhaps distinct essences; and we see them acting, as
well separately as conjointly, for the general good. tinder
their accordant influeno, we behold the plastic and mys-
terious substance of matter. which we must be.empeeially
careful not to confound with themselves, rising from " airy
nothing" into entity,--aseending from invisible elements
into worlds, and systems of' worlds,—froni shapeless} chaos
and confusion into forth, and ortler and harnsony,r-from
brute and lifeless immobility into energy and activity, into
a display of instinct, feeling, perception,—of being, and
beauty, and happiness. One common design, one uniform
code of laws, in different but consenting divisions; eqUalfy
simple and majestic, equally local and comprehensive, per.
varies, informs, unites, and consummates the whole.
The effect, then, being one, the MIGHTY CAUSk that
produced it must be one also : the radiating fountain of all
possible prifections—ever active, but ever at rest—ever pre-
sent, though never seen—immaterial, incorporeal, ineffable ;
but the source of all matter, of all mind, of all existence,
and of all modes of existence. Whatever we behold is
Gon : all nature ,is his awful temple—all sciences the
porticoes that lead to it, and the chief duty of phllomphy
is to conduct us to his altar ; to render all our attainments,
which arc but the bounteous afHations of his spirits sub-
servient to his gloty ; and to engrave on the tablet of our
hearts this great accordant motto of all natural and of all
revealed religion, of Athens and of Antioch, of Aratus
and of St. Paul—"lN HIM tvs LIVE, AND MOTS? •NI)
HAVE OUR DEING."—Dr. MG/011 Good on Itesitnet—
London Medical and Physical Journal for Nov. 18515.