cation established with all, even the most remote parts of the system; having outlets and avenues, for the ready despatch of couriers to all quarters, and for the reception of speedy intelligence on every interesting occasion. It is furnished with lodgments wherein to post sentinels of various characters, and appoint to various offices, to expedite their operations, whether employed in reconnoitering what passes without, or examining what claims admittance within. The whole turns upon a curious pivot, most nicely contrived to afford the largest and freest circumvolutions. This stately capitol is screened from heat, defended from cold, and, at the same time, beautified by a copious growth of hair.

The GREAT CREATOR, profusely gracious to mankind, has made us an inestimable present of the SENSES to be the inlets of innumerable pleasures, and the means of administering the most valuable comforts. High in the head, bright and conspicuous as a star in the brow of evening, is placed the eye. In this elevated situation, like a centinel posted in his watch tower, it commands the most enlarged prospect. Consisting only of simple fluids, enclosed in thin tunicles, it conveys to our apprehension all the graces of blooming nature, and all the glories of the visible Heavens. How prodigiously wonderful, that an image of the highest mountains, and a transcript of the most diversified landscapes, shall enter the sinal circlet of the pupil! How surprisingly artful, that the rays of light, like an inimitable pencil, should paint on the optic nerves, paint in an instant of time, paint in the truest colours, and exactest lineaments, every species of external objects.

The Eye is so tender, that a slight accident, scarce perceivable by some other parts of the body, proves very injurious to its delicate frame. It is guarded, therefore, with the most solicitous care; with a care evidently proportioned to its nice texture, and extensive usefulness. It is entrenched deep in the head and barricaded on every side with a strong fortification of bones. The wisdom and goodness of the Creator appear in the astonishing apparatus of muscles with which the eye is furnished, to produce all the necessary and convenient motions in the situation

where it is placed. The eye-brows serve to defend this delicate organ from too strong a light; and as the incursion of the smallest fly would incommode the polished surface, it is farther defended by two substantial curtains (eye-lids) hung on a most slender cartilaginous rod, which secure it from floating dust and from every troublesome annoyance. In sleep, when there is no occasion to exercise the sense, but an absolute necessity to protect the organ, these curtains spontaneously close, and never fail to lie shut. On the inside of these curtains or eye-lids, lie glands, which secrete a limpid fluid, that lubricates the eye-ball, as often as we wink, or, as it were, oils its wheels, and fits it for a course of unwearied activity.

The Ear consists of an outward porch and inner chambers, with tools of the most admirable contrivance, and finished workmanship. The porch is that cartilaginous substance, standing somewhat prominent from the head, covered with a tight expansion of the skin, and wrought into irregular bends and hollows; which, like circling hills, or surrounding rocky shores, collect the wandering undulations of the air, transmit them with vigorous impulse, to the finely stretched membrane of the tympanum, or drum of the ear. The avenue, or narrow entry, is secured from the insinuating attempts of little insects, by a morass of bitter and viscous matter, disgustful to their taste, and embarrassing to their feet. The hammer and the anvil, the stirrup and the drum; the winding labyrinths, and the winding galleries; these and other pieces of mechanism, instrumental to the power of hear ing, are, beyond description, curious.

Amazingly nice must be the formation, and inconceivably exact the tension of the auditory nerves, since they correspond with the smallest tremours of the atmosphere, and easily distinguish their most subtle variations. With the gentle gales that fan us, or even with the ruder blasts that assault us, these delicate strings are but little affected. Whereas, they are perfect anisons with those fine, those significant agitations of the air, which the acutest is unable to discern. These living chords, tuned by the touch of an Almighty hand, and diffused through

the echoing aisles, and sonorous cells, receive the impressions of sound and propagate them to the brain. These give existence to the charms of music, and reciprocate the rational entertainments of discourse. The eye perceives only the objects before it; whereas the ear warns us of transactions above us, behind us, all around us. The eye is useless amidst the gloom of night, and cannot carry its observation through the bolted door or the closed window-shutter; but the ear admits intelligence through the darkest medium, and the minutest cranny. Hence, when, we cannot see a friend, because of an interposing partition, yet, by the friendly aid of this organ, we can learn that he is in the adjoining room by his voice, or that he is near by his steps. The eye is upon duty only in our waking hours; but the ear is always expanded, and always accessible; a courier which never tires, a centry ever in his box. To secure a resource, in case any misfortune should disable one of the hearing or seeing organs, our all gracious MAKER, 'has given us duplicates of each.

As there are tremulous concussions impressed upon the air, discernible only by the instruments of hearing; there are also odoriferous particles wafted by the same aerial vehicle, which are perceivable only by the smell.

The Nostrils are wide at the bottom, that a large quantity of effluvia may enter; narrow at the top, that when entered, they may close their ranks, and act with greater vigour. Fine, beyond all imagination, are the streams exhaled from foetid or fragrant bodies. The very best microscopes, which discover thousands and tens of thousands of animalcules in a drop of pu→ trified water, cannot bring one individual among all these evanescent legions to our sight. They sail in numberless squadrons close to our eyes, close by our ears; yet are so amazingly attenuated, that they elude the search of both. Nevertheless, so judiciously are the olfactory nets laid, and so artfully their meshes seized, that they catch these vanishing fugitives. They catch the roaming perfumes, which fly off from the opening honey-suckle, and take in the stationed sweets which hover round the expanded rose. They imbibe all the balmy fragrance of

spring, all the aromatic exhalations of autumn, and enable us to banquet even on the invisible dainties of nature.

Flies o'er the meadows, not a cloud imbibes
The setting sun's effulgence, not a sirain
From all the tenants of the warbling shade
Ascends, but whence our senses can partake
Fresh pleasure.

AKENSIDE

Another capacity for frequent pleasure, our bountiful CREATOR nas bestowed in the power of taste; by means of which the food, that supports our body, feasts our palate; first treats us with a pleasing regale, then distributes its beneficial recruits. The razor, whetted with oil, becomes more exquisitely keen; so the saliva, flowing upon the tongue, and moistening its nerves, quickens them into the liveliest acts of sensation. This sense is circumstanced in a manner peculiarly benign and wise; so as to be a standing, though silent plea for temperance.

The sight, smell, and taste, are not only so many separate sources of delight, but a joint security to our health. They are the vigilant and accurate inspectors which examine our food, and inquire into its properties, pleasant or disagreeable, wholesome or noxious. For the discharge of their offices, they are excellently qualified, and most commodiously situated; so that nothing can get admission through the mouth, till it has undergone the scrutiny and obtained the pasport of each.

To all these, as a most necessary and advantageous supplement, is added the sense of feeling; which renders the assemblage complete. While other senses have a particular place of residence, this is diffused throughout the whole body. In the palms of the hands, on the tips of the fingers, and indeed through all the extreme parts of the flesh, it is most quick and lively.— The whole army of Xerxes drawn out in battle array, with his millions of supernumery attendants, were but like a few gleaners straggling in the field, if compared, either in number or order,

with those nervous detachmnnts, which pervade the texture of the skin and minister to the act of feeling.

The crowning gift, improving the satisfaction, and augmenting the beneficial effects of all the senses, is speech. Speech makes me a gainer from the eyes and ears of other people; from the ideas they conceive, and the observations they make. And what an admirable instrument for articulating the voice, and modifying it into speech is the tongue! The tongue has neither bone nor joint; yet fashions itself, with the utmost volubility, into every shape and every posture, to express sentiment, or constitute harmony. This little collection of muscular fibres, under the conducting skill of the CREATOR, is the artificer of our words. By this we communicate the secrets of the breast, and make our very thoughts audible. By this we instruct the ignorant, and comfort the distressed; we glorify GoD, and edify each other:

Who would not bless for this the gift of speech,
And in the tongue's beneficence be rich?

But still, what is this mansion of flesh, though so exquisitely wrought, compared with the noble and immortal inhabitant, which resides within?

"That intellectual being,

Those thoughts, which wander through eternity."

The Mind, or Soul, of much higher character than that of the perishable frame with which it is at present connected, has neither nerves, nor the nervous fluids. These are only its agents, in this its imprisoned state. When the "silver cord" is broken, which connects MIND and MATTER together, vitality ceases. The body then, with all its artful and numerous vessels, fibres and nerves, and other exquisite machinery, undergoes decomposition, and is turned into its original elements; but the IMMORTAL SOUL, having shaken off this coil, is destined for a new residence; to flourish in eternal youth; to outlive the wreck of elements and the crush of worlds. It is embodied even in its