6 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



how clearly and how inevitably one step succeeds another, 

 and how the whole steps lead to the conclusion to observe 

 how certainly and unerringly the reasoning goes on from 

 things perfectly self-evident, and by the smallest addition at 

 each step, every one being as easily taken after the one before 

 as the first step of all was, and yet the result being something 

 not only far from self-evident, but so general and strange, that 

 you can hardly believe it to be true, and are only convinced 

 of it by going over the whole reasoning this operation of the 

 understanding, to those who so exercise themselves, always 

 affords the highest delight. The contemplation of experi- 

 mental inquiries, and the examination of reasoning founded 

 upon the facts which our experiments and observations dis- 

 close, is another fruitful source of enjoyment, and no other 

 means can be devised for either imprinting the results upon 

 our memory, or enabling us really to enjoy the whole pleasures 

 of science. They who found the study of some branches dry 

 and tedious at the first, have generally become more and more 

 interested as they went on ; each difficulty overcome gives an 

 additional relish to the pursuit, and makes us feel, as it were, 

 that we have by our work and labour established a right of 

 property in the subject. 



