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caufe they confider them as the means of roufing adivity, and of 

 exciting to experiment and patient obfervation. A man who has 

 a theory to fupport muft concentrate his attention, and will quit 

 the idlenefs of mere ingenuity for that induftry which leads to 

 truth — aflertions and declamation he knows will avail him little ; 

 fads, which ultimately decide all arguments, muft be ranged 

 under his banners, if he afpire to the honours of a triumph ; nor is 

 it by any means neceffary that the fpedlators fliould be parti- 

 zans ; the moft complete indifference may be prefcrved as to the 

 theoiift, and even as to the theory. 



I THOUGHT it neceflary to mention the attempts which have 

 been made to communicate intelligence fwiftly by found, and to 

 remark that it is probable that this art may be brought in time 

 to high perfedlion. Though I prefer different methods I would not 

 difcourage others, nor keep my own mind fo intent upon one 

 objed as to prevent my obferving vvhat may be worth my confi- 

 deration in another. 



The telegraphic art was chiefly confined to war amongft the 

 ancients; but we have reafon to conjedure that it was alfo fe- 

 cretly employed in the management of oracles. Fontenelle be- 

 lieved that the oracles at Delphi and at other places were deli- 

 vered through pipes, which communicated with the apartments 

 of the priefts*. Befides contrivances of this fort, is it abfurd to 



fuppofc 



* Pcre Bakhus oppofes this opinion of Fontenelle's in his anfwer to the Hiftory of 

 Oracles. 



