PRINCIPLES Otf SCIENCE. 



they are designed to subserve. The merit of 

 many of these gentlemen, in other points, is not 

 meant to be depreciated ; it is in many respects 

 entitled to praise. When some of them, how- 

 ever, arrogate to themselves the claim of furnish- 

 ing to the world all the physiological knowledge 

 in it, and, as if alone qualified to discuss a 

 physiological question, receive with slight, and 

 consider as mere drivellers those who take 

 natural rather than artificial phenomena, and 

 whom they contemptuously denominate closet 

 philosophers, we cannot but feel amused with 

 the folly of such conceits. 



In order to appreciate the whole merit to 

 which they are entitled, it ought to be examin- 

 ed ; and I am persuaded it will be found that 

 the reason of this conceit and pride arises in 

 consequence of mistaking art for science, the 

 man who carries the hod, for the architect who 

 designs, and, from confounding the laborer 

 and bellows-blower with the physiologist and 

 metaphysician.* I do not include the mail 



* It is not to be supposed, that I am singular in this opi- 

 nion ; it is the opinion of some of our best experimentalists 

 also. I shall quote a passage from Dr. Enfield, the learned 

 Professor of Natural Philosophy at the establishment or uni- 

 versity of Warrington ; it is contained in the preface of his 

 celebrated work, intitled the Institutes of Natural Philoso- 

 phy; and dedicated to Dr. PRIESTLEY. After recommending 

 a knowledge of mathematics, he observes, that, " a mechanic 



