STUDY VIÎT. 



153 



imagery is enchanting ; but that Philofophy of 

 atoms, which adhere to each other by chance, is 

 fo completely abfurd, that wherever it appears, 

 the beauty of the poetry is impaired. For the 

 truth of this, I confidently refer to the judgment 

 of his partifans themfelves. It fpeaks neither to 

 the heart nor to the underftanding. It offends 

 equally in it's principles, and in the confequences 

 deduced from them. To what, wç may afic him, 

 do thofe primary atoms, out of which you con- 

 ftruft the elements of Nature, owe their exiftence? 

 Who communicated to them the firfl movement ? 

 How is it pofïible they fliould have given to the 

 aggregation of a great number of bodies, a fpirit 

 of life, a fenfibility, and a w^ll, which they them- 

 felves poffeffed not ? 



If you believe, with LeibnitZy that thofe monads, 

 or unities, have, in truth, perceptions peculiar to 

 themfelves, you give up the laws of chance, and 

 are reduced to the neceffity of allowing to the ele- 

 ments of nature, the intelligence which you refufe 

 to it's Author. Defcartes has, in truth, fubjeded 

 thofe impalpable principles, and, if I may be al- 

 lowed the exprefTion, thatmetaphyfical duft, to the 

 laws of an ingenious Geometry ; and after him, 

 the herd of Philofophers, feduced by the facility of 

 ereding all forts of fyflems with the fame mate- 

 rials, have applied to them, by turns, the laws of 



attraction, 



