Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-13
BRATTLEBORO, w.: NOV. 13, 1853.

in directions the most opposite, but in proper
tons so exactly balanced and nicely adjusted,
that results the most harmonious are produced.
1t is by the action Of opposite and compen-
satng forces that the earth is kept i'll its orbit,
and the stars are held suspended in the azure
vault of heaven; and these forces are so ex-
quistely adjusted, that, at the end of thou
sand years, the earth, the sun, and moon, and
every star in the armament, is found to come
to its proper place at the proper moment.
Nay, philosophy teaches us, when the little
snow-drop, which in our garden walks we see
raising its beautiful head to remind us that
spring is at hand was created, that the whole
mass of the earth, from pole to pole, and from
circumference to center, must have been taken
into account and weighed in order that the
proper degree of strength might be given to
the fbres of even this little plant
Botanists tell US that the constitution of this
plant is such as to require that, at a certain
stage of its growth, the stalk should bend, and
the flower should bow its head, that an opera
ton may take place which is necessary in order
that the herb should produce seed after its
kind and that after this, its vegetable health
requires that it should lift its head again and
stand erect Now if the mass of the earth had
been greater or less the orce of gravity would
have been diierent in that case, the strength
of fibre in the snow-drop, as it is, would have
been too much or too little the plant could not
bow or raise its head at the right time, fecunda-
ton could not take place. and its family would
have become extinct with the first individual
that was planted, because its "seed" would not
have been "in ITSELF" and therefore it could not
reproduce itself
Now, if we see such perfect adaptation, such
exquisite adjustment, in the case Of one of the
smallest flowers of the field, how much more
may we not expect compensation" in the at
mosphere and the ocean, upon the right adjust
ment and due performance of which depends
not only the life of that plant, but the we'll
being of every individual that is found i'll the
entire vegetable and animal kingdoms of the
world?
When the east winds blow along the Atlantic
coast for a little while, they bring us air satur
ated with moisture from the Gulf Stream, anC
we complain of the sultry, oppressive, heav,
atmosphere the invalid grows worse, and the
well man feels ill., because, when he takes thi'
atmosphere into his lungs, it is already ST
charged with moisture that it can not take ul
and carry off that which encumbers his lungs
and which nature has caused his blood to bring
and leave there that respiration may take ul
and carry off At other times the air is DIR,
and hot he feels that it is conveying off mat
ter too fast he realizes the idea that it is con
sumin9 him, and he calls the sensation parch
ing.
Therefore, in considering the general law
which govern the physical agents of the uni
verse, and regulate them in the due perform
ance of their offices, | have felt myself con
strained to set out with the assumption that,
the atmosphere had a greater or less capacit
for moisture, or if the proportion of land AM
water had been different-if the earth, air AM
water had not been in exact counterpolse-th
whole arrangement of the animal and vegetabl
Kingdoms would have varied from their presen
state. But God chose to make those kingdom
what they are; for this purpose it was necessa
nv. in his Judgment, to establish the proportion
between the land and water, andsthe deser
Just as they are, and to make the capacity {
the air to circulate heat and moisture just wha
it is, and to have it to do all its work in ODE
dience to law and in subservience to order
it were not so, why power given tn
winds to lift up ana transport moisture, or tn
property given to the sea by which its water
may first become vapor. and then fruitful show
ers or gentle dews9 If the proportions an
properties of land, sea, and air were not adjust
ed according to the reciprocal capacities of a
to perform the functions required by each, VIII
should we be told that he measured the water
in the hollow of his hand, and comprehende
the dust in a measure, and weighed the mour
talnS III scales, ana tne Nils Ill Oalance =
Why did he open the heavens, but that h
might mete out the atmosphere in exact pre-
portion to all the rest, and impart to it thos
properties and powers which it was necessar
for it to have, in order that it might perform a
those oficesan duties forwhich he designed it
Harmonious in their action, the air and sc
are obedient to law and subject to order in a
their movements when we consult them in tn
performance of their Office, they teach us le'
sons concerning the wonders of the deep, tn
mysteries of the sky, the greatness, and tf
wisdom, and goodness of the Creator The il
vestigatons into the broad-spreading circle
phenomena connected with the winds of tf
heaven and the waves of the sea are second
none for the good which they do and the le
sons which they teach. The astronomer is sal
to see the hand of God in the sky; but doe
not the right-minded mariner, who looks alo
when he ponders over these things, hear h
voice in every wave of the sea that " claps il
hands," and feel his presence in every breez
that blows ?-Liem. Mamy.
ALARIC;
OR,