learned philosophers of our race； who lived and flourished long before my time； that this vast world； the Moulin Joly； could not itself subsist more than eighteen hours； and I think there was some foundation for that opinion； since； by the apparent motion of the great luminary that gives life to all nature； and which in my time has evidently declined considerably towards the ocean at the end of our earth； it must then finish its course； be extinguished in the waters that surround us； and leave the world in cold and darkness； necessarily producing universal death and destruction。 I have lived seven of those hours； a great age； being no less than four hundred and twenty minutes of time。 How very few of us continue so long！ I have seen generations born； flourish； and expire。 My present friends are the children and grandchildren of the friends of my youth； who are now； alas； no more！ And I must soon follow them； for； by the course of nature； though still in health； I cannot expect to live above seven or eight minutes longer。 What now avails all my toil and labor in amassing honey…dew on this leaf； which I cannot live to enjoy！ What political struggles I have been engaged in for the good of my patriot inhabitants of this bush of my philosophical studies for the benefit of our race in general！ For in politics what can laws do without morals？ Our present race of ephemerae will in a course of minutes bee corrupt； like those of other and older bushes； and consequently as wretched。 An