STUDY I. 39 



dations, and efpecially by penfions ; whereas no 

 one is paid for fearching after truths, which have 

 the improvement of Mankind for their only ob- 

 objeâ:. We carry with us, into refearches fo in- 

 dependent and fo fublime, the pafllons of the col- 

 lege and of the world, intolerance and envy. 



Thofe who enter firft on the career, oblige thofe 

 who come after them to walk in their footfteps, or 

 to give it up ; as if Nature were their patrimony, 

 or, as if the ftudy of Nature were an exclufivc 

 trade, that did not admi"- of every one's participa- 

 tion. What trouble did it coft to eradicate, in 

 France, the metaphyfics of Arifiotle^ which had be- 

 come a fpecies of religion ? The philofophy of 

 DefcarteSy which fupplanted it, might have fub- 

 fifted to this day, had it's revenues been as ample. 

 That of Newton^ with it's attractions, is not more 

 folidly eftablidied. I have an unbounded refped 

 for the memory of thefe great men, whofe very de- 

 viations have affifted us, in opening great high- 

 ways through the vafl empire of Nature; but, on 

 more occafions than one, I fhall combat their prin- 

 ciples, and, efpecially, the general applications 

 which have been made of them, in the full perfua- 

 fion, that, if I renounce their fyftems, I promote 

 their intentions. It was the ftudy of their whole 

 life to raife men toward the Deity, by their fu- 

 blime difcoveries, without fufpedling, that the 



D 4 laws 



