$6
>ocVoher. by the greateft magnifier we difcovered the orifice of a
little tube, which entered the body of this little atom,
within which were four or'five inteftine bags connected
with the tube. Having examined feveral of them, which
had much the fame appearance, I endeavoured to catch
fome in water, and'bring them under the microfcope in a
concave glafs, where its nature and organs might be
better examined: but thefe minute objects were always
hurt with our touch before we could place them in the
concave glafs, and when dead only appeared as an indif-
tindt mafs of floating filaments. In about two hours
time the water had loft its luminous appearance. We had
another bucket full of it drawn before that time, but all
our attempts to catch one of the little atoms in the glafs
proved ineffedtual. Accordingly we haftened to draw the
appearance of the firft globule, and to write down our ob-
fervations. The moft probable conjecture which we could
form concerning thefe little atomical animalcules was,
that they might be the young fry of fome fpecies of me-
dufa or blubber, though it may likewife be polfible, that
they are beings of a diftindt genus.
There was a Angularity, and a grandeur in the difplay
o f this phenomenon, which could not fail of giving occupation
to the mind, and linking it with a, reverential
awe, due to Omnipotence. The ocean covered to a great
extent, with myriads of animalcules ; thefe little beings,
ororganized
alive, endowed with locomotive power, a qua- ‘
lity of Ihining whenever they pleafe, of illuminating
every body with which they come in contadt, and of laying
afide their luminous appearance at pleafure: all thefe
ideas crouded upon us, and bade us admire the Creator, even
in his minuteft works. It is the natural fault of young
people to think too well of mankind ; but I hope I Ihall
not have formed too favourable an opinion of my readers,
if I expedt that the generality will fympathize with me in
thefe feelings, and that none will be found ignorant or
depraved enough to defpife them.
Turrigeros elephantorum miramur- humeros, taurorumque colla et truces in
fublimeja&us, tigrium rapinas, leonumjubas; quumrerum natura nusquam
magis, quam in minimis tota sit. Quapropter quzefo, ne noftra legentes,
quoniam ex his fpernent multa, jetiam relata faftidio damnent, quum in contem-
platione Naturas nihil pofiit videri vacaneum,. Plin, Hift. Nat. lib. xi. cap. 2.
The next morning, after a very rainy night, we failed Friday 3<!.
into Table bay. The mountains at the bottom of it, now
appeared clear of clouds, and furprifed us with their prodigious
craggy, fteep, and barren appearance. As we
advanced farther into the bay, we difcovered the town
at the foot of the black Table mountain, and foon came
to an anchor. After faluting the fort, and receiving the
vdit of feveral officers in the fervice of the Dutch Eaft-India
company, we went on fliore with captains Cook and
Furneaux, being prepared to meet with many new ac-
quifitions to fcience, on a continent fo diftant from our
own, and fituated in an oppofite hemifphere.
V ol, I. | CHAP.