AND EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY. 225 



from the earth, those beneath the sun most quickly. Another 

 kind of observation also is to be adopted, which has not 

 hitherto been introduced, although of no small importance; 

 namely, that to a list of things which exist, should be sub 

 joined one of those which do not exist, as in the history of 

 the heavens, that no oblong or triangular star has been dis 

 covered, but all are globular, either simply, as the moon, or 

 angular to the sight, but globular in the centre, as the other 

 stars ; or bearded to the sight, and globular in the centre, 

 as the sun : or that the stars are not arranged in any 

 order, that there is no quincunx, square, or other perfect 

 figure (notwithstanding the names of the delta, crown, 

 cross, wain, 8cc.), scarcely in a right line, excepting, per 

 haps, the belt and sword of Orion. 



Fifthly, it will, perhaps, assist the inquirer, though perni 

 cious and destructive to the believer, to review all received 

 opinions, their varieties and sects, briefly and currently 

 as he proceeds, just to waken the intellect, and nothing 

 further. 



x. These will form a sufficient store of general precepts ; 

 and if they be diligently adhered to, 4he labour of this 

 our history will both be directed immediately to its ob 

 ject and confined within proper limits. But if, even thus 

 circumscribed and limited, it may perhaps appear vast to the 

 feeble-minded, let him cast his eyes upon our libraries, and 

 observe the codes of civil and canon law on the one hand, 

 and the commentaries of doctors and practitioners on the 

 other, and see what a difference there is in the bulk and 

 number of volumes. For we, who as faithful scribes, do 

 but receive and copy the very laws of nature, not only can, 

 but must by necessity be brief; but opinions, dogmatism, 

 and theory, are innumerable and endless. 



In the distribution of our work we made mention of the 

 cardinal virtues of nature, and observed that a history of 

 them must be completed before we come to the work of 

 interpretation. This we have by no means forgotten, but 

 we reserve it to ourselves, not daring to augur much from 

 the industry of others in the attempt, until men have begun 

 to be a little more acquainted with nature. We next pro 

 ceed, therefore, to the designation of particular histories. 



Pressed, however, by business, we have only leisure suffi 

 cient to subjoin a catalogue of particular histories, arranged 

 under their proper heads. As soon as time permits, it is our 

 intention to instruct, as it were, by interrogation in each, 



VOL. xiv. Q 



