STUDY IX. 201 



STUDY NINTH. 



OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE METHODS OF OUR REA- 

 SON, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR SCIENCES. 



T HAVE difplayed, from the beginning of this 

 -*- Work, the immenfity of the fludy of Nature» 

 I there propofed new plans, to affift us in forming 

 an idea of the order which fhe has eflablifhed in 

 all her various kingdoms : but, checked by my 

 own incapacity, all that I could prefume to pro- 

 mife was, to trace a flight fketch of what exifts in 

 the vegetable order. However, before I proceeded 

 to lay down new principles on this fubjeét, I 

 thought myfelf called upon to refute the prejudices 

 which the World, and our Sciences themfelves, 

 might have diffufed over Nature, in the minds of 

 my Readers. I have, accordingly, exhibited a 

 faint reprefentation of the goodnefs of Providence 

 to the age in which we live, and the objeâiions 

 which have been raifed againft it. I have replied 

 to thofe objeâiions, in the fame order in which I 

 bad ftated them, pointing out, as I went along, 



the 



