STUDY I.-Immensity of Nature

Infinite extent of Nature exemplified-The straw-

berry plant and insects that frequent it-Pheno-

mena of flowers-Organization of insects-Abuse

of the gifts of Nature by man-Tribes of the animal

kingdom-The shark-Man, his empire over Na-

ture-His origin-The variety of the human spe

cies-The contrasts, harmonies, and transitions of

Nature-The plan of this work-Application of the

laws of Nature to man.

Men look upon Nature with indifference-The bless-

ings of Nature-The whole world engaged in the

pursuit of pleasure-Not only things that actually

exist, but past ages, contribute to the felicity of

man.

STUDY III.-Objections against Providence .

STUDY IV.-Replies to the Objections against Provi-

dence

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86

Replies to the Objections against Provi-

dence founded on the Disorders of the

Globe

Mountains not formed by the centrifugal power-
Systems adopted to explain their origin-Proofs
that bays, gulphs, Mediterranean sea, &c. are not
irruptions of the ocean-The courses of rivers-

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Observations on the bed of the sea-Currents of
the ocean-Courses of the tides-Whirlpools-
Tides of the Orkneys-Counter currents occasion
the tides of Europe and America-Course of the
current of the North Pole-Tides of the solstices
and equinoxes-Ebb and flood-Tides of the South
Pole-Thawing of ice-Icelands-Equilibrium be-
tween the Poles Total effusions of the Polar ices
sufficient to produce a general deluge-The au-
thor's theory of the general deluge-The two
principal currents of the ocean-Mouths of rivers,
use of islands in them, &c.-Lofty peaks possess
the property of attracting clouds-Lakes near the
sources of rivers-Mountains of islands-Peak of
Teneriffe-Influence of the sandy zones on the
Polar ices-Periodical removals of sands-Vol-
canoes-Formation of strata of marl and flints, &c.
-Sources of the Atlantic ocean-Elevation of the
Poles-Elongation of the earth at the Poles-Effu-
sions of the Polar ices-Periodical currents of the
Atlantic ocean-Observations on the migration of
fishes, and their forms-Marine plants, &c.

STUDY V.-Replies to the Objections against Provi-
dence founded on the Disorders of the Ve-

getable Kingdom

Utility of the periodical inundations of certain
rivers-Picture of Nature recovering her domi-
nion usurped by man, and beauty of prospects not
mutilated by his hand-Scene in the Isle of France
and Russian Finland-Plants not the production of
chance-Their mechanism-Varieties of vegeta-
tion in different climates-Provision of Nature for
the animals of hot and cold climates-Vegetation
not impeded by cold-Vast size of fir trees in the
north regions-Influence on the climates from
cutting down forests.

STUDY VI.-Replies to the Objections against Provi-
dence founded on the Disorders of the
Animal Kingdom

Fecundity of the northern regions-Large size of
the fish there-The herring fishery-Migration of
herrings, &c.-Abundance of fish in the southern
hemisphere and west coast of America, and the
beneficence of Nature in sending shoals from the
Poles-Necessity for beasts of prey-Insensibility
of some animals destined for the prey of others-
Analogy between fishes and insects-The genera

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tion of animals from corruption refuted-Their
proportions, wise conformation, and various means
of offence and defence-Monsters-Benignity of
Nature in her conduct towards man.

STUDY VII. Reply to the Objections against Provi-
dence founded on the Calamities of the

Varieties of the human species-Differences of their
colour-Varieties of their stature-Distinct nature
of the brute and human animal-Difference be-
tween the intelligence of man and that of beasts-
Animal instincts-Superiority of various animals
to man in exterior confirmation-Difference of
manners no proof that human reason depends on
climate-Influence of the seasons on the passions-
Climate has no influence on the gestation of the
human female-The morals, qualities, and passions
of mankind are not determined by climate-Vice
and virtue not communicated with the blood-
Utility of carnivorous animals-Animals of prey
not formidable to man-Animals formidable to him
-Noxious animals destroyed by birds-Utility of
animals injurious to man-Insects which attack
the human body-Hurricanes, storms, earthquakes,
&c.-Causes of epidemic maladies-Methods sug-
gested to prevent the corruption of the air-Of
canals and marshes-Re-action of oppression on
the oppressors-Evils of opinion-Observations on
the classing of governments, and the essential re-
quisite to make them happy and respectable-La-
cedæmon, Rome-Honours paid to virtue there-
Holland, Turkey, Prussia, Venice, Malta, Spain,
Portugal, England, Poland, Japan, and China-
Wretched condition of the negroes, and the infe-
riority of their understanding-The Bramins and
the Naires of India-Observations on the history
of France-The vices of the clergy not to be im-
puted to religion-Excellence of the Christian re-
ligion-Antiquity of religious traditions-Proof that
the earth is not of high antiquity-Universal dif-
fusion of the monuments and traditions of religion
-Morality of the gospel defended-Influence of
religion on the passions-Exertions of the church
of Rome in the cause of humanity-The influence
of women-Tyranny of popular opinion-Penicious
influence of venality-Large landed possessions
injurious to a state and to individuals-Indigence
of the lower classes in some provinces of France-
Calculation of the number of indigent persons in
France-Morals of the people corrupted by penury
-Re-action of the evils to which the lower classes

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are subjected-Advantages of small farms-Ne-
cessity of war controverted-Number of prosti-
tutes equivalent to that of bachelors-Unsuitable
employments of the sexes-The French Rose-
feasts-Injudicious punishments of guilt-Power
of prejudice exemplified-Evils arising from the
education of children-Influence of early habits-
Injudicious management of children-Faulty sys-
tem of modern education-Ambition the most
dangerous of the passions, and inspired by the or-
dinary mode of education-Equivocal utility of
colleges and academies-Inconsistencies of mo-
dern education-Consequences of its vices-Its in-
sufficiency for the purposes of life-Education of
the savages of America-Influence of the happi-
ness or misery of childhood on future life-In
stances of sensibility in children-Recapitulation
of the subjects of this chapter.

MEMOIR

OF THE

LIFE OF M. DE ST. PIERRE.

THE difficulty of procuring materials for the biography of living characters, is well known to all those who have ever undertaken such a task. Unless, indeed, such persons have neld high situations in the state, or have raised themselves to distinction by great military achievements, the particulars which we are enabled to glean respecting them are generally confined to a few solitary facts. If this observation is true, with regard to our countrymen and fellow-citizens, how much more strongly does it not apply to the natives of a foreign land? When to this are superadded the obstacles resulting from war, which interrupts nearly all communication, the reader must be sensible how much the difficulty is increased.

These observations must plead in excuse for the scantiness of the following details, relative to the life of the author of the present work, the unassuming modesty of whose manners, and the retirement of whose habits, have thrown still farther impediments in the way of such re

search.

Jacques Bernardin Henri de St. Pierre was a native of Upper Normandy, where he was born at Havre de Grace, in the year 1737. His family must have been respectable, as the commissions he held under the French government