diverfified and extenfive Operations. Firm with Bone, yet not weighty with Flefh; and capable of performing, with fingular Expedition and Ease, all Manner of useful Motions. They bend inwards, and turn outwards, they rife upwards, and ftoop downwards; they wheel about, and throw themselves into whateverDirection We please.--To thefe are annexed the Hands; and all terminated by the Fingers. Which are, not like the Arms, of the fame Length, and of an equal Bignefs; but in both Refpects different. Which gives them a more graceful Appearance, and a much greater Degree of Ufefulness. Were they all Flesh, they would be comparatively impotent : were they one entire Bone, they would be utterly inflexible. But confifting of various little Bones, and a Multitude of Mufcles, what Shape can they not affume? What Service can they not perform?-. Being placed at the End of the Arm, the Sphere of their Action is exceedingly enlarged. This advantageous Situation realizes the Fable of Briareus; and renders a Pair of Hands, as ferviceable as an Hundred. The Extremities of the Fingers, are an Affemblage of tendonous Fibres, most acutely fenfible *. Which, notwithstanding the Delicacy of

their

So very acute is the Senfibility of these Parts, that, I am informed, it furnifhes the Tribunal of Inquifition, with one of the inoft refined Expedients in the Art of Torture. A ftrong Quill, fharpened by the Pen-knife, and dipped in fome inflammable Liquor, is thruft deep between the Nail and the Finger. When the Quill has cut its Way through the fhivering Nerves; and ftands planted, like a Dagger, amidst the gufhing Blood; fome barbarous Hand fets Fire to the Extremity. The keen Point, the flow Flame, and both in the Seat of the most lively Senfation, put the miferable Sufferer to the most excruciating Pain.

their Texture, are destined to almoft inceffant Employ, and frequently exercised among rugged Objects. For this Reason, they are overlaid with the Nails, a Sort of horny Expansion: which, like a Ferule, hinders the Flesh from being ungracefully flattened; and, like a Sheath *, preserves the tender Parts from injurious Impreffions.

In the Ministry of the Hands, and Activity of the Fingers, We possess a Case of the finest Inftruments, or a Collection of the nobleft Utenfils. Qualifying Us for the Execution of every Work, which the projecting Genius can devife, or the lavish Fancy crave.To these We are obliged for the beautiful Statues, which have often entertained our Eyes, in yonder folitary Walks; and even for that melodious Trumpet, which now addreffes our Ears, from the Summerhouse on the Fish-pond.-These raise the lofty Column, and turn the fpacious Arch. Thefe fwell the majestic Dome, and adjust the commodious Apartment. Architecture, with all her striking Beauties, and all her rich Benefits, are the Creation of the human Hand.-Yielding to the Strength of the Hand, the tallest Firs fall to the Ground, and the largest Oaks defcend from the Mountains. Fafhioned by the Dexterity of the Hand, they accommodate the Sailor with a floating Warehouse; and circulate, from Britain to Japan, the Productions of Nature, and the Improvements of Art.-Obedient to the human Hand, Metals afcend from their fubterraneous Beds; and compose the most fubftantial Parts of that curious Machine †, which tranfmits far and near, to the Monarch's Palace, and to the Peafant's Hut,

* Digitis Munimina.

fuch

The Printing-prefs.

fuch Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, as the Gold and Crystal cannot equal *.

:

Among the Egyptians, the Hand was the Symbol of Strength among the Romans, it was an Emblem of Fidelity and I think, it may, among all Nations, be looked upon as the Enfign of Authority. It is the original and the univerfal Sceptre; that which not only reprefents, but afcertains our Dominion, over all the Elements, and over every Creature.Though Providence has not given Us the Strength of the Horfe, the Swiftness of the Greyhound †, or the

Job xxviii. 17.

+ I once heard a Gentleman, famous for his philofophical Abilities, cenfure the Formation of the human Body; because it is not fo commodiously fitted for Swiftnefs, as the Bodies of fome other Animals. But I think this Objector's Sagacity, notwithstanding his great Reputation, was no more to be admired than his Modesty.

His Modefty, it is certain, was none of the most eminent. Because, it prefumed to difpute the Propriety, or rather to deny the Truth of that grand Encomium, which OMNISCIENCE itself pronounced on the Works of Creation; Behold! they are good; all good; all very good.-Neither was his Sagacity the most extraordinary. Because, it found Fault with a magnificent Monarch, for not breeding up the young Prince to the Bufinefs of a Running-footman. Shall the royal Heir be fet to perform this Drudgery of the Heels? Shall He not rather command and enjoy the Performance of it from his Vaffals?

This Objection is no lefs ftale, than four. It was made in St. Chryfoftom's Time, and is very judiciously anfwered by his Pen. The learned Reader, I hope, will not be displeased, to perufe the Paffage in the Original; and the Unlearned, I promife myself, will allow me the Honour of being his Interpreter.

Τι δηποτε εκ βασιλευς των αλεξων εσίν ο άνθρωπος, και ρώμη και οξύτήλι και τα χει πολλά των ζωων αυτό πλεονεκτεί ; και γαρ ταχυ τερον ιππος ανθρωπο, και τλητικώτερον βες, και κεφότερον αέλος, και

ισχυρότερου

the fagacious Scent of the Spaniel; yet, directed by the Understanding, and enabled by the Hand, We

can

ισχυρότερου λεων.-Τι εν αν ειποιμεν προς ταύλα; ει και ελεύθερ μάλιςα εισόμεθα τε Θε8 την (οφίαν, και την τιμην, ην ημας ελίμησε ταχύτερον μεν ιππος ανθρωπε, αλλ' εις αποδημίας ταχος επιληδειότε τον ανθρωπος ιππε ιππος μεν γαρ καν απαίων οξυλαλος και αλκιμ ταλος η, μολις διακόσιες δραμείται της ημερας σαδίες ανθρωπος δε υποζεύξας ίππες εκ διαδοχής πολλές, και δισχιλιες δυνησείαι τωδως διανυσαι ωςε οπερ εκείνω το ταχος, τέλω ο λογισμος και η τεχνη παρεσχεμεία πλειονος της υπερβολης. Ανδρ. ια.

If Man is, as your religious Folks pretend, Lord of the irrational Creation; how comes it to pass, that many Aximals exceed Him in Vigour, in Speed, and other bodily Endowments ? The Horfe is frifter, and the Ox more robuft the Eagle foars to greater Heights, and the Lion poffeffes fuperiour Strength.How hall We reply to fuch Cavils? We will more than confute them. They shall ferve as an Argument, to prove the unfearchable Wisdom of the CREATOR; and as a Topic, to difplay the honourable Regard, which He hath fhewn to Mankind. We allow, that the Horfe is fwifter than his Mafter. Yet, with all his Swiftnefs, He is not able to take fuch long Fournies, or to perform them fo expeditiously. A Horfe, be He the fleeteft and strongest of the Kind, will hardly hold out, to go four core Miles in a Day. Whereas Man, by taking feveral Changes of Horfes for his Saddle, or feveral Sets of Horfes for bis Chaife, will travel, in the fame Time, a greater Number of Miles. Therefore, what the vigorous Sinew and the nimble Foot are to the Horfe; that, and abundantly more, the contriving Head and the executing Hand are to Man.

Let me add the eloquent Preacher's Expoftulation. Which is pertinent and fpirited; and not the worfe, for a Spice of wholesome Invective; mingled with a Spark of decent Indignation. Όταν εν ο δεσπόλης, ο απο τε μη ούλος εις το είναι παραδαίων, καλα και πανυ καλα τα δημιερηματα προσεκτικο τις αν τολμήσεις, και αυλομανίας η πεπληρωμένος, διαρκι το σώμα και αντιφθέξασθαι τοις υπο τε Θεε ζηθεισιν ; Since then the CREATOR himself has pronounced all his Works to be confummately good, who fall dare to controvert his fudgment, or detraat from their Excellency? This were an Excefs of Arrogance, Little fert of Madnefs !

3

Galen,

can fubject them to our Will; turn them to our Advantage; and, in this Senfe, make them all our own.-Thefe Hands (furprifing to relate!) these fbort Hands have found out a Way, whereby they can dive to the Bottom of the Ocean;› can penetrate the Bowels of the Earth; and reach from Shore to Shore. These feeble Hands can manage the Wings of the Wind; can arm themselves with the Rage of the Fire; and press into their Service the forcible Impetuofity of the Waters. How eminent is the Dignity! How extenfive the Agency of the Hand! It would require more Eloquence, than your Orator poffeffed, to display the former; and more Pages, than your Book contains, to defcribe the latter. How greatly then are We indebted to our indulgent CREATOR, for accommodating Us with this most useful, this moft diftinguishing, this invaluable Member!

Above all, is the Head; a majestic Dome, elevated on the Neck, and defigned for the Refidence of the Brain. It is framed in exact Conformity to this important Purpofe; ample, to receive; strong, to uphold; and firm, to defend, what is the Origin of all our Senfe and all our Motion.-As the Head refembles the General's Tent in an Army, or the Monarch's Palace in a City; it has a Communication established with all, even the most inferior and remote, Parts of the Syftem. It has Outlets and Avenues, for the ready Difpatch of Couriers to all Quar

Galen, if I remember aright, allowed Epicurus an hundred Years, to find out a more commodious Shape, Situation, or Texture, for any one Part of the human Body. And I believe, if all the Angels in Heaven had ftudied to this Day, they could not have given a fairer or a more correct Edition of this living Volume.