DR. GREGORY S STRICTURES ON DON RODRIGUEZ. 247 



lish Trigonometrical Survey, I conjecture that I am merely tional survey 

 describing a feeling which has been more or less experienced m frans. 



by every man of science in the kingdom. The publication of* 

 an attempt by a foreigner to cast discredit upon a great national 

 undertaking, in the transactions of the most eminent philoso- 

 phical institution of that nation, the Royal Society, — that is, in 

 a work which learned men on the continent contemplate as a 

 fair picture of the science and genius of England, is, I believe, 

 a thing unprecedented in the history of literature. If the 

 great work which Don Rodriguez has taken upon himself to 

 examine, had been really reprehensible, it would still have been 

 extraordinary that he should have been permitted to give his 

 censures currency in such a vehicle j but how much moreex- 

 raordinary must it be thought, if, on inquiry, it shall appear, 

 that his strictures are causeless, and therefore unjust. This is 

 an inquiry which every man of competent information, who has 

 at heart the honour of his country, has a right to institute j 

 and, however unpleasant the undertaking may, in some re- 

 spects be, I enter upon it without delay, because Colonel 

 Mudge, whose reputation is so deeply implicated in this busi- 

 ness, is at present prevented from giving Don Rodriguez's 

 paper that decided and complete refutation which it will here- 

 after receive at his hands, and because his silence, though una- 

 voidable, may be construed into defeat. 



Impressed by these considerations, I propose, in this com- £> r# g.'s rea 

 munication to show, that the observations of this ingenious *°ns for quot- 

 foreigner are, on all his main positions, unfounded: and, al- tScs. 81 "" 10 "" 

 though the matter under investigation is, in general, so nearly 

 elementary that any man of moderate scientific attainments 

 might safely rest the truth of his assertions upon his own cha- 

 racter and their intrinsic evidence ; yet, lest it should be ap- 

 prehended that, on this occasion, my judgment may be warped 

 either by strong national feeling, or by private attachment, I 

 shall fortify my positions, as I go along, by such authorities as 

 neither Don Rodriguez, nor any other person, will be inclined 

 to question. 



Before I proceed to the points which Don Rodriguez selects 

 as the basis of his animadversions, it may not be thought im- 

 proper if I briefly advert to what appears hi<J main, if not his 

 sole, object, in making those animadversions at all. I shall 



not 



