XU AD^^ERTISEMENT, 



On the other hand, if Academics have not come 

 forward to explain themfelves, we mud take into 

 confideration the embarraffment to which they felt 

 themfelves reduced, that of retradling publicly acon- 

 clufion geometrically falfe, but rendered venerable 

 by age, and univerfally propagated. They could not 

 adopt my refults without condemning their own ; 

 and it was impoffible for them to condemn mine, 

 becaufe they were fupported by adual operations 

 performed by themfelves. I myfelf have been no 

 lefs embarrafled, when, on publilhing my obferva- 

 tions, I found myfelf reduced to the alternative of 

 chufing between their efteem and their friendlhip; 

 but I followed the impulfe of the fentiment of 

 truth, which ought to abforb every political con- 

 fideration. The intereft of my reputation, I con* 

 fefs, claimed fome fmall fliare, in deciding the 

 point, but it was very fmall indeed. Public utility 

 has been my leading objedl. I have employed 

 neither ridicule nor enthufiafm, againft men of ce- 

 lebrity detecled in an error. I am not elevated 

 into a ftate of intoxication on the fcore of my Rea- 

 fon. I approached them as I would have done to 

 Plato laid aficep on the brink of a precipice ; fear- 

 ing the moment of their awaking, and ftill more 

 the prolongation of their flumbers. I have not 

 imputed their blindnefs to any want of light, an 

 infinuation to which the learned are fo fenfibly 

 alive ; but to the glare of fyilems, and efpecially, 



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