ESSAY 



AND 



OBSERVATIONS 

 PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 



Article i. 



Of the Laivs of Motion ; by the Honourable 

 HenryHome, EJquire, one of the Sena- 

 tors of the College ofjuflice, 



NOt H I N G has retarded the progrefs of 

 philofophy more than an unlucky 

 propenfity that makes us gralp at 

 principles without due regard to fads and 

 experiments. Tho' fond of knowledge, we 

 are willing to purchafe it at the eafieft rate ; 

 and general principles delight us, becaufe 

 they fhorten the road to knowledge. This 

 bent of the mind is produdlive of mani- 

 fold errors. PrepofTelTed once by a favou- 

 rite principle, we are no longer open to con- 

 viaion. Every phaenomenon muft be ac- 

 commodated to that principle, and eve- 

 Vol. I. A ry 



