THE CONFLICT OF OLD AND NEW IDEAS 



63 



but continued to hold sway over the ignorant by means of almanac- 

 makers. It was Dean Swift, the man who defended Temple and 

 the Ancients, that gave the death blow to this false doctrine in the 

 so-called Partridge Papers. This famous practical joke upon Part 

 ridge is too well known to need extended discussion. It may be 

 briefly shown, however, that it was a part of the struggle for the 

 supremacy of reason and commonsense. 



Swift defined his position on the question of astrology in his 

 Predictions for the Tear 1708. "I must add one word more: I 

 know it has been the opinion of several learned persons, who think 

 well enough of the true art of astrology, that the stars do incline, 

 and not force the actions or wills of men; 159 and therefore, 

 however, I may proceed by right rules, yet I cannot in prudence so 

 confidently assume the events will follow exactly as I predict 

 them". 160 He then predicted among other things the death of 

 Partridge "on the 29th of March next, at about eleven at night, of 

 a raging fever". 161 This trick of Swift's caught the humor of 

 London; the wits were curious to see Partridge hoisted with his 

 own petard. In due time Partridge's death was announced in a 

 detailed account of his last moments. The account found some 

 credence in spite of Partridge's vigorous protest that "the reports 

 were exaggerated". 



Almanac-making did not cease with this incident, but judicial 

 astrology became a laughing-stock for the town. Commonsense 

 with satiric lance had driven it from the field, so that it was hence 

 forth "pensioned in dotage" among all those who pretended to 

 learning. By this means another stronghold was taken by reason. 



This survey of the conflict between the old and the new scientific 

 ideas has been made by an examination of the salient examples. 

 The discussion has constantly been centred upon the meeting of 

 imagination and science. The conflict was far more permeating 

 than that reaching into religion, moral and human philosophy, and 

 politics. Nor did the conflict cease with the early years of the 



159 Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, p. I; "They incline but do not compel . . . 

 and so gently incline that a wise man may resist them. . . . They rule but God 

 rules them." Cf. Browne's Vulgar Errors, vol. II, p. 200; "There is in wise men a 

 power above the Stars." 



160 Swift's Works, vol. VIII, p. 402-3. 



vol. VIII, p. 443-4. 



