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by philofophy, comparing a fet of experiments, and generalizing prin- 

 ciples. 



We fliould endeavour, by every motive of rew^ard and honour, to 

 draw the man of fcience from his retreat ; and lead hira, to devote 

 his talents, and refearches, to the praftical purpofes of human life. 



Geometry, duly applied, will contribute to compleat and perfect the 

 mechanical arts ; it will find the jufl proportions of things ; and will 

 enfure that precifion of execution, in which, confifts perfection. Ma- 

 gellan and Drake were, without doubt, great navigators, long before 

 the true figure of the earth was afcertained ; yet, the art of naviga- 

 tion has been brought to greater perfection ; fince geometry has dif- 

 covered, that the earth is not a fphere, but a fpheroid, and corrected 

 our charts, according to that figure. 



Naturalifts may examine various fubftances of the animal, vegetable, 

 and mineral kingdoms; and point out their ufe and application, in the 

 cultivation of land, in the purpofes of domeftic life, in the conftruc- 

 tion of buildings, or machines, in the procefs of manufactures. — The 

 naturalift, for inftance, examining the nature, and properties, of wood 

 and ftone, may furnifla aids to architefture, in the choice of materials, 

 in the manner of working, and ufing them. 



Philofophy, having eftabliflied principles, and fliown both the fupe- 

 rior excellence, of one mechanical operation, or procefs, compared with 

 another, and the reafons, and grounds, on which the fuperiority is 

 founded ; — that becomes general, and the fruit of defign and fore- 

 thought, which before was held to be cafual, and the offspring of ac- 

 cident and luck. It can be demonftrated, that an arch of the catena- 

 rian curve is more ftrong, to fupport a fuperincumbent weight, thaa 

 a circular one — an architeft may, at firft, adopt the catenarian curve, 

 by accident ; but finding, its properties demonftrated, by geometry, he 

 will, afterwards, employ it uniformly, and on principle. Chemiftry may 

 difcover fccret modes, of producing ' ftronger degrees of heat, A fimi- 

 hr difcovcry may refult from accident. 



In 



