XIX. ON THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF MECHANICAL 

 PHILOSOPHY. 



Introductory Lecture delivered in the Philosophy School of Trinity Colkge, in Hilary 

 Term, 1834. 



GENTLEMEN, I have lately endeavoured to lay before you an 

 outline of the methods which have been pursued in the culti- 

 vation of Physical Science; and I dwelt in particular on the 

 principles of the inductive philosophy as laid down by Bacon. 

 At present I propose that we should confine our attention to that 

 branch of natural philosophy which is to form the subject of our 

 consideration during the ensuing Term ; and review briefly the 

 rise and subsequent advances of Mechanical Science. 



The fallacious methods adopted by the ancients in physical 

 science, generally, did not exclude a certain progress in the science 

 of force. The doctrine of equilibrium, as you will soon learn, is 

 altogether independent of experience ; and the laws which deter- 

 mine the relations of balancing forces may be deduced wholly by 

 a priori reasoning. In this department, accordingly, some steps 

 were early made. From the metaphysical principle of sufficient, 

 reason, Archimedes derived the properties of the lever; and showed 

 that two weights attached to it are in equilibria, when they are to 

 one another inversely as their distances from the fulcrum. This 

 important and fundamental principle contained the germ of Statical 

 Science : Archimedes himself was able to deduce from it the rules 

 for the composition of parallel forces ; and to show that there 

 existed in every body, or system of bodies, a point now known 

 by the name of the Centre of Gravity in which its weight might 

 be supposed to be concentred. 



