OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY. 43 



with such a moderate degree of research, as is cal- 

 culated rather to stimulate than to weary curiosity. 

 If we were set down, as creatures of another world, 

 in any existing society of mankind, and began to 

 speculate on their actions, we should find it difficult 

 at first to ascertain whether they were subject to 

 any laws at all: but when, by degrees, we had 

 found out that they did consider themselves to be 

 so ; and would then proceed to ascertain, from their 

 conduct and its consequences, what these laws were, 

 and in what spirit conceived ; though we might not 

 perhaps have much difficulty in discovering single 

 rules applicable to particular cases, yet, the moment 

 we came to generalize, and endeavour from these to 

 ascend, step by step, and discover any steady per- 

 vading principle, the mass of incongruities, absurd- 

 ities, and contradictions, we should encounter, would 

 either dishearten us from further enquiry or satisfy 

 us that what we were in search of did not exist. 

 It is quite the contrary in nature ; there we find 

 no contradictions, no incongruities, but all is har- 

 mony. What once is learnt we never have to 

 unlearn. As rules advance in generality, apparent 

 exceptions become regular ; and equivoque, in her 

 sublime legislation, is as unheard of as maladminis- 

 tration. 



(34.) Living, then, in a world where such laws 

 obtain, and under their immediate dominion, it is 

 manifestly of the utmost importance to know them, 

 were it for no other reason than to be sure, in all we 

 undertake, to have, at least, the law on our side, 

 so as not to struggle in vain against some insuper- 

 able difficulty opposed to us by natural causes. 



