72 ESSAYS awn OBSERVATIONS 
tain the fame opinion, when he afks, if the 
inertia of matter (which he explains to be 
that refiftance which body makes to its being 
drawn out of reft, and receiving a determi- 
ned motion, and which is more or ‘lefs. in 
propertion to its mafs) may not be the effec 
of fome motion ; and if it ought not to be 
conceived as an actual force, acting by fome 
fecret mechanifm. And the author of an E/- 
fay on Spirit \ately publithed, maintains in 
like manner, that there is an active refiftance _ 
to the beginning of motion in every body ; 
tho’ indeed he attributes that activity to.an 
immaterial caufe. And Meff. Buffon and 
Needbam too, who have carried the activity 
of matter to the higheft pitch, have drawn 
one argument in fupport of their fyftem 
from the refiftance of body to motion. Need- 
ham’s Obfervations p. 435. 
To give the queftion a fair examination, 
we fhall, inftead of {peaking about matter 
or body, fuppofe for once, a fubftance before 
us quite inactive of itfelf, which is extend- 
ed, impenetrable, finite, and confequently 
moveable. Let us try if any lefs refiftance 
to motion can be expected here, than is actu- 
ally to be met with from common matter. 
‘ | ; Place . 
