STUDY XII. 365 



ties far fuperior to our fciences, which are, if the 

 truth were told, foreign to us. If we have difco- 

 vered fome phofphoric fubftances, the luminous 

 fly of the Tropics has in itfelf a focus of light, 

 which illuminates it during the night. While we 

 are amufing ourfelves in making experiments on 

 electricity, the torpedo is employing it in felf- 

 defence: and while the Academies and States of 

 Europe are propofing considerable prizes to the 

 perfon who (hall difcover the means of determin- 

 ing the Longitude at Sea, the paillencu and the 

 frigat are every day performing a flight of three or 

 four hundred leagues between the Tropics, from 

 Eaft to Weft, without ever failing to find, in the 

 evening, the rock from which they took their de- 

 parture in the morning. 



Another mortifying infufficiency prefents itfelf, 

 when Philofophy attempts to employ, in combat- 

 ting the intelligence of Nature, that very reafon 

 which can be of no ufe but to difcern it. What 

 plaufible arguments, refpecling the danger of the 

 parlions, the frivolity of human life, the lofs of 

 fortune, of honour, of children I You can eafily 

 unhoufe me, divine Marcus Aurelius, and you 

 too, fceptical Montagne ; but you have not pro- 

 vided for me another home. You put the ftaff of 

 Philofophy into my hand, and fay to me, walk on 

 intrepidly ; make the tour of the World, begging 



your 



