180 OF THE LENGTH OF DAYS AND NIGHTS,

LETTER XI.

Of THE DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF DAYS AND NIGHTS,AND THE VICISSITUDES OF THE SEASONS.

N ATU RE is always grand in her designs,but frugal in the execution of them:sublimity and simplicity are the striking cha-racteristics of her workmanship. From a fewsimple principles she produces the most astonish-ing effects, and charms us no less by the infinitediversity of her operations, than by the lkill andcontrivance which are manifested in the per-formance of them. The fun, moon, planets andstars, are all governed by the fame invariablelaws^ the single principle of gravitation per-vades the whole universe, and puts every springand wheel of it in motion. From the indis-cernible atom, to the vast and immeasurable lu-minaries of heaven, every thing is subject to itsdominating influence; and from this active, in-visible, and invigorating agent, proceeds all thatorder, harmony, beauty, and variety, which soeminently distinguishes the works of creation.

But of all the effects resulting from this ad-mirable scene of things, nothing can be more

pleasing