242 Remarks on the History of Inventions. 



translated into English) ; but this is a perfectly desultory composition ; 

 and, instead of attempting to trace the first foundations of the most essential 

 arts, presents only rambling notices of trivial and subordinate details con- 

 nected with a very few of them. 



I shall first premise a few observations on the method which it is my 

 own intention to follow. 



I. Considering the general dependence of all human arts on the employ- 

 ment of artificial tools, I shall first commence with a few observations on 

 the steps by which man has advanced in the employment of the most es- 

 sential and universal of these instruments ; and the manner in which he 

 avails himself even in the rudest state of the more obvious mechanical 

 powers ; reserving all observations on more complicated machines for the 

 consideration of the specific arts to which they are applied. 



II. The first application which man requires to make of the tools with 

 which he has thus furnished himself, is to provide himself with shelter 

 from the inclemencies of the weather : the construction of his habitations, 

 therefore, is the first of his arts which we shall have to notice. 



III. We may next consider his means of providing himself with food. 

 It may seem, perhaps, that this article ought to have preceded the former, 

 inasmuch as it may be said, man must find food before he seeks a dwelling; 

 but this will apply only to the most obvious supplies afforded him at once 

 by the free bounty of nature. The employment of art to procure and ex- 

 tend those supplies, appears clearly subsequent in the order of invention 

 to the providing shelter for his head ; unless indeed in those few and fa- 

 vored climates, where he can safely bear constant exposure. Under this 

 head, with reference to animal food, we shall have to consider man in the 

 successive stages of hunter and shepherd ; and to notice his weapons for 

 the chase, and his arts for the domestication of animals. With the supply 

 of vegetable food we shall find many essential arts connected, — agriculture, 

 the naturalization of foreign vegetables, the construction of mills to grind 

 his corn, and of ovens to bake his bread ; the supply of water also being 

 essential to quench his thirst, and to irrigate his plantations, the most 

 essential machines for procuring it should be here noticed. 



IV. The warmth of clothing is in most countries no less essential than 

 the shelter of a roof, or even food itself. Under this head the first rude 

 coverings of skin, and the subsequent fabrics of the spinning wheel and 

 weaving loom, will present themselves to our notice. 



V. Next to these necessary arts of preservation, we find, alas, was the 

 great art of destruction, rivalling every other in universal extent. Here 

 we shall have to notice weapons of offence and defence, the construction of 

 forts, &c. 



VI. The manufacture of metals may next be considered ; and the kin- 

 dred subjects of the various productions of pottery and glass may here 

 also find a convenient place. 



