no distinct apparatus for respiration, and no sense but that of feeling and perhaps that of tasting. This is not true, however, without exception; for, in some instances, traces of a nervous system, of a circulation, and of respiratory organs, may be detected, as in the sea-urchin, the common star-fish, and the sea-egg. These Zoophytes are the most perfect in their structure, and are endowed with a curious set of organs for the purpose of motion. Their shells are pierced with a large number of holes, regularly arranged, through which project the feet of the animal, or rather the instruments answering the purpose of feet. These are little hollow cylinders, filled with a liquid, and terminating in a kind of knob, which is also hollow. By forcing the liquid into these cylinders, or by exhausting it from them, the animal can either lengthen or shorten them. The knob, when exhausted, is drawn into a cup-like form, and thus may be firmly fixed to whatever object it is applied, like a cuppingglass; and when the liquid is again thrown into it, it is again loosened.

Pol'ypes have a hollow, cylindrical, or conical body, with one extremity open which serves for their mouth, and is surrounded by a number of organs, (tentacula) by which they seize their prey. Many of them have been celebrated on ́account of the fact, that when one is divided into several pieces, each piece becomes a distinct animal, perfect in all its parts. The immense beds of coral and the different kinds of sponge, are nothing but the habitations of infinite numbers of these little animals, and are produced by their labour. Corals grow in such quantities, and to such heights. in some seas, as to create islands. The Friendly Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, were thus raised by corals from the depth of that sea. Ships have often been lost by striking on coral-rocks.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is said of the former and present application of the term Vermes? 2. What is said of the structure of Vermes? 3. Of the circulation of their blood and of their respiration? 4. Of their instruments of motion, and their habitations? 5. Describe the medici. nal Leech. 6. What is said of the general structure of Zoophytes? 7. Describe the organs of motion in the most perfect Zoophytes. 8. What is the structure of Polypes? 9. For what celebrated? 10. How are corals and sponge produced? 11. What is said of the growth of corals in some seas? [NOTE. To the class of Zoophytes belong Intestinal worms, sea-nettles, or sea-anem'ones, Medusæ, or sunfish, and

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Animalcules, which have been called infusorial animals, (Infusoria,) because they are principally found in some animal and vegetable fluids and infusions.] 12. What are the orders of Vermes according to Linnæus? (see Appendix.) 13. In treating of a particular animal, how are naturalists accustomed to designate it? 14. Give examples.

LESSON 103.

Existence of the Deity.

1

GOD and the world which he has formed are our great objects. Every thing which we strive to place between these is nothing. We see the universe, and seeing it, we believe in its Maker. The universe exhibits indisputable marks of design it is not, therefore, self-existing, but the work of a designing mind. From the great masses that roll through space, to the slightest atom that forms one of their imperceptible elements, every thing is conspiring for some purpose. I shall not speak of the relations of the planetary motions to each other, of the mutual relations of the various parts of our globe,-of the different animals of the different elements, in the conformity of their structure to the qualities of the elements which they inhabit,—of man himself in all the nice adaptation of his organs :-to these splendid proofs, it is scarcely necessary to do more than to allude. But when we think of the feeblest and most insignificant of living things, the minutest insect which it requires a microscope to discover, when we think of it as a creature, having limbs that move it from place to place,-nourished by little vessels, that bear to every fibre of its frame, some portion of the food which other organs have rendered fit for serving the purposes of nutrition;-having senses, as quick to discern the objects that bear to it any relative magnitude as ours,and not merely existing as a living piece of most beautiful mechanism, but having the power, which no mere mechanism, however beautiful, ever had, of multiplying its own existence, by the production of living machines exactly resembling itself; when we think of all the proofs of con trivance which are thus to be found in what seems to us a single atom, or less than a single atom, and when we think of the myriads and myriads of such atoms, which inhabit even the smallest portion of that earth, which is itself but

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almost an invisible atom, compared with the great system of the heavens,-what a combination of simplicity and grandeur do we perceive! It is one universal design, or an infinity of design;-nothing seems to us little, because nothing is so little as not to proclaim the omnipotence which made it;-and I may say too that nothing seems to us great in itself, because its very grandeur speaks to us of that immensity, before which all created greatness is scarcely to be perceived.

On particular arguments of this kind, however, that are as innumerable as the things which exist, it is not necessary to dwell. Those whom a single organized being, or even a single organ, such as the eye, the ear, the hand, does not convince of the being of a God,-who do not see him, not more in the social order of human society, than in a single instinct of animals, producing unconsciously, a result that is necessary for their continued existence, and yet a result which they cannot have foreknown-will not see him in all the innumerable instances that might be crowded together by philosophers and theologians.

The world, then, was made ;-there is a designing Power which formed it-a Power whose own admirable nature explains whatever is admirable on earth, and leaves to us instead of the wonder of ignorance, that wonder of knowledge and veneration which is not astonishment, but love and awe: BROWN.

LESSON 104.

Political Economy.

Tech'nical, belonging to arts; not in common or popular use. THE language of science is frequently its most difficult part, but in political economy there are few technical terms, and those easily comprehended. It may be defined as the science which teaches us to investigate the causes of the wealth and prosperity of nations.

In a country of savages, you find a small number of inhabitants spread over a vast tract of land. Depending on the precarious subsistence afforded by fishing and hunting, they are frequently subject to dearths and famines, which cut

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them off in great numbers. As soon as they begin to apply themselves to pasturage, their means of subsistence are brought within narrower limits, requiring only that degree of wandering necessary to provide fresh pasturage for their cattle. Their flocks ensuring them a more easy subsistence, their families begin to increase; they lose in a great measure their ferocity, and a considerable improvement takes place in their character.

By degrees the art of tillage is discovered, a small tract of ground becomes capable of feeding a greater relative number of people; the necessity of wandering in search of food is superseded; families begin to settle in fixed habitations; and the arts of social life are introduced and cultivated.

In the savage state scarcely any form of government is established; the people seem to be under no control but that of their military chiefs in time of warfare. The possession of flocks and herds in the pastoral state introduces property, and laws are necessary for its security; the elders and leaders therefore of these wandering tribes begin to establish laws, to violate which is to commit a crime and to incur a punishment. This is the origin of social order; and when in the third state the people settle in fixed habitations, the laws gradually assume the more regular form of a monarchical or republican government. Every thing now wears a new aspect; industry flourishes, the arts are invented, the use of metals is discovered; labour is subdivided; every one applies himself more particularly to a distinct employment, in which he becomes skilful. Thus, by slow degrees, this people of savages, whose origin was so rude and miserable, become a civilized people, who occupy a highly cultivated country, crossed by fine roads, leading to wealthy and populous cities, and carrying on an extensive trade with other countries.

The whole business of political economy is to study the causes which have thus co-operated to enrich and civilize a nation. This science, therefore, is essentially founded upon history, not the history of sovereigns, of wars, and of intrigues, but the history of the arts, and of trade, of discoveries, and of civilization. We see some countries, like America, increase rapidly in wealth and prosperity, whilst others, like Egypt and Syria, are impoverished, depopulated, and lling to decay; when the causes which produce these va

rious effects are well understood, some judgment may be formed of the measures which governments have adopted to contribute to the welfare of their people; whether certain branches of commerce should be encouraged in preference to others; whether it be proper to prohibit this or that kind of merchandise; whether any peculiar encouragement should be given to agriculture; whether it be right to establish by law the price of provisions or the price of labour, or whether they should be left without control; and whether many other measures, which influence the welfare of nations, should be adopted or rejected.

It is manifest, therefore, that political economy consists of two parts-theory and practice; the science and the art. The science comprehends a knowledge of the facts which have been enumerated; the art relates more particularly to legislation, and consists in doing whatever is requisite to contribute to the increase of national wealth, and avoiding whatever would be prejudicial to it. MRS. BRYAN.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is political economy? 2. What is the state of savage life? 3. What is the consequence of attending to pasturage? 4. What is the effect of discovering the art of tillage! 5. What introduces property? 6. What is the origin of social order? 7. What follows after the laws assume the regular form of a government? 8. On what is the science of political economy founded? 9. How may some judgment be formed of the measures of governments? 10. What does the science of political economy comprehend? 11. The art?

LESSON 105.
Property.

WHEN We consider the multitude who are in possession of means of enjoyment, that are to them the means only of selfish avarice or of profligate waste, and when, at the same time, we consider the multitudes, far more numerous, to whom a small share of that cumbrous and seemingly unprofitable wealth, would in an instant diffuse a comfort, that would make the heart of the indigent gay in his miserable hovel, and be like a dream of health itself to that pale cheek, which is slowly wasting on its wretched bed of straw, in cold and darkness, -it might almost seem to the inconsiderate, at least for a