240. Review of the Principia of Newion. 
ciples of nature were secrets contained in her own bosom, 
and could not be discovered by the human intellect but by 
diligent research; in short that the true principles of Natu- 
ral Philosophy can be found only by experiments, and ob- 
servation of what really exists in the natural world; that 
the high flights of the ancients in the assumption of general 
principles unsupported by facts, and in synthetical deductions 
from them, ought to be discarded ; and that natural science 
could not be improved, or advanced but by the contrary me- 
thod of analysis, which proceeds from particular to general 
conclusions by induction. When the general principles have 
been well established so as to bear the test of the experimen- 
tum crucis, or so as to be explicable only in one way, we 
may safely proceed to synthetical deductions. This new 
mode of philosophizing, received the applause and approba- 
tion of all the learned, who were not chained to prejudice, 
or infatuated by idolatrous reverence for the names of Aris- 
totle, Descartes, and others. An adherence to the Baconi- 
by succeeding philosophers, has in a short time 
produced more wonderful discoveries, than had ever before 
of the Baconian system. It is said by a writer in the Edin- 
con. In mathematics, it is true, Newton followed, not co- 
ee influence of one or more forces. To force 
e kind or other, and the general effect of its motion. 
