1 66 0?t the retcrjed DoSrines refpeB'mg Heat, 



heat is materia]. But, when I confider the rapid' advance^ 

 that have been made in various branches of fcience withia 

 thefc few years pall, I cannot allow myfelf to believe that its 

 votaries will much longer doubt of the exiftence of the nioft 

 powerful and moft generally diflfufed fubftance in nature, or 

 long remain of the opinion, ^^ that all attempts to difcover 

 anj ejjuj qf heat upan the apparent^iv eight of bodies ivHl be 

 fruitlcjs,'' 



The ingenious philofopher (Count Rumford) whofe words 

 I have jult quoted^ and to whom every inquirer into Nature 

 luuft feel himfelf highly indebted for the unwearied patience 

 with which hq has watched and traced her fteps in many of her 

 moft intricate operations, and for the zeal which he has ma- 

 nifested in applying fcientific truths to the common purpofea 

 of life, will be among the firfl: to abandon the opinion ; for, 

 when he ihall have better confidered the fubjecl, he will find 

 tjie evidence lies wholly on the other iide. If the opinions. 

 I have controverted were held only by men, like him, en-r 

 lightened and candid, I fhould be fanguine enough to believe 

 that what I have advanced would fuffice to convince all of 

 their abfurdity without the neceility of faying a word more 

 on the fubje6l : but we know well how difficult it is for the- 

 human mind to lliake off imbibed prejudices, efpeoially wherv 

 they have been theorifed, and applied, like the fait, fulphur, 

 ajul mercury, of the alchemifts, and the phlogillon of the 

 Stahlians, to explain all the phaenomena of nature ; and 

 therefore I cannot promife myfelf, that, the mere treaders in 

 tFammels and day-labourers In fcience will adopt my ideas 

 without fomething more lev<;il to, their capacity being firlt 

 oflered in addition to the evidence already produced. Indeed 

 it would he unreafonable to expeft that men of the caft to. 

 which I i;ow allude fliould at one glance perceive the force 

 of truth whct\ prefented to their view. If they ever appre- 

 hend truth, it is when it chances to be a part, of the fyfteni 

 they have been, taugVu ; and that fyftem, however falfe, they 

 always adhere to, tiU eyery perfon of fupprioc Uitellect ha& 

 abandoned it. 



With a Society, however, inftituted for purpofes like oura, 

 tiath will meet with a proper reception. Thofe who are. 



affociatQd 



