cal theology. Whatever has been said of the original union 

 of poetry with philosophy may be extended to eloquence ; 

 for, in the earlier ages of learning, the philosopher and orator 

 also were united, and it was supposed that their respective 

 ends would be most effectually accomplished by their co-ex- 

 istence ; * " Hanc enim perfectam philosophiam semper pu- 

 tavi, quas de maximis quasstionibus copiose posset et ornate 

 dicere." After the light of learning was restored, the two 

 arts continue still associated, those countries which have 

 been particularly distinguished for their poets, orators, his- 

 torians, and critics, have also to boast of the most illustrious 

 names on the records of mathematics and philosophy, whe- 

 ther natural, moral, or metaphysical. To conclude this 

 sketch of their connected history, we may say (adopting an 

 idea of -f Grattan's) that in every country Polite Literature 

 has rocked the cradle of Philosophy in its infancy, has la- 

 mented it's decline, and followed it's fall ; that it hailed it's re- 

 suscitation, when it rose from the tomb of Gothic barbarism, 

 and has since uniformly accompanied it in its descent through 

 the vale of time, and that .wherever the sublime communica- 

 tions of science have been disregarded, there the politer muse 

 has not deigned to raise her fascinating voice, 

 i. The mathematical sciences, like the objects of which 

 they treat, maybe considered as quantities capable of en- 



• TuUy Thsc. Quaest. 



J " I have rocked tlie criidle of Irisli Independence, and 1 have followed its hearse." 

 VOL. XIL. C 



