6 LECTURE I. , 



In physic, the wisest can do but little, and the ignorant can only do worse 

 than nothing: and anxiously as we are disposed to seek whatever relief the 

 learned and experienced may be able to afford us, so cautiously ought we 

 to avoid the mischievous interference of the half studied empiric : in politics 

 and in religion, we need but to look back on the history of kingdoms and 

 republics, in order to be aware of the mischiefs which ensue, when " fools 

 rush in where angels fear to tread- " 



Deeply impressed with the importance of mathematical investigations, both 

 foi- the advancement of science and for the improvement of the mind, I thought 

 it in the first place an indispensable duty to present the Royal Institution, in 

 my Syllabus, with a connected system of natural philosophy, on a plan seldom, 

 if ever, before executed in the most copious treatises. Proceeding from the 

 simplest axioms of abstract mathematics, the syllabus contains a strict demon- 

 stration of eveiy proposition which I have found it necessary to employ through, 

 out the whole extent of natural philosophy. In the astronomical part only, 

 some observations occur, unsupported by mathematical evidence: here, how- 

 ever, it was as impracticable, as it would have been useless, to attempt to enter 

 into investigations, which in many instances have been extended far beyond 

 the limits even of Newton's researches. But for the sake of those who are 

 not disposed to undertake the labour of following, with mathematical ac- 

 curacy, all the steps of the demonstrations on which the doctrines of the me- 

 chanical sciences are founded, I shall endeavour to avoid, in the whole of this 

 course of lectures, every intricacy which might be perplexing to a beginner, 

 and every argument which is fitter for the closet than for a public theatre. Here 

 I propose to support the same propositions by experimental proofs : not that I 

 consider such proofs as the most conclusive, or as more interesting to a truly 

 philosophic mind than a deduction from general principles ; but because there 

 is a satisfaction in discovering the coincidence of theories with visible effects, 

 and because objects of sense are of advantage in assisting the imagination to 

 comprehend, and the memory to retain, what in a more abstracted form 

 anight fail to excite sufficient attention. 



This combination of experimental with analogical arguments, constitute^ 

 the principal merit of modern philosophy. And here let the citizen of the 

 world excuse the partiality of an Englishman, if I pride myself, and congra- 



