28 THE KVKAL SOCRATES. 



for fiich a diminution, but did not think myfelf author- 

 ized to difputs the truth of his obfervation ; having, on 

 all other occafions, found in him thofe qualities necefTary 

 to form the accurate obferver : namely, a facility in em- 

 bracing luminous views of a fabjecSt, joined to a perfc- 

 vering attention and an intire freedom from prejudice. 

 I have only to regret, that he is not more anxious to pre^- 

 fcnt his ideas with dillinc'tnefs, and to determine in all 

 his obfervations the preciie proportions and degrees of 

 things. It is fufficient indeed for his own purpofes, to 

 have his own conceptions clear ; but this perfpicuity, 

 which exifls only in his own underftanding, does not 

 enable him to communicate exad ideas to others ; — and 

 it is in this particular,that natural genius difFejs fromthat 

 which is f^////t;rt/^^ and poIiQied by art and application* 

 The ideas of the perfon who poffefles only natural ge- 

 nius, are peculiarly diflindl in his own mind, and de#» 

 Icend to the flnalled: minutiae with great precifion ; but 

 the party neither gives himfelf pains to deveiope nor to 

 attach words to them. He makes himielf mafter of the 

 dimenfions of his obje<rt:, and even retains them in a for- 

 cible, though at the fame time a vague manner ; not 

 having regulated them by any fixed meafure ; and there- 

 fore the notions of it which he is able to communicate, 

 are always confufcd and incomplete, and commonly lofi 



as 



of fand or gravel over which it run?, thus at length becoming purified.—. 

 But it does not Item advifeahle to oveitiow any land with fpring water ci- 

 ther during the excefiive hear of uimmer, or the infenfe cold of « inter.— 

 Kxcellent rennarks on the watering of lands are to be met with in a roe- 

 iDorial which carried the prize given by theEconomical Society ot Berne, 

 inferred in their JournaI,VoI.i i. (fold at Zurich byHeideggucr and Com- 

 pany, and at Pari- by Brocas and Hu ^ibolt of St. Jaqnes Srrett.) ^F. 



I'he Annoracor here, in fpeaking of the temperiKure of f.>rings, forgeta 

 that this temperature viiries in difif rent climares, elevation'', and expo* 

 turcs ; correfponding, ^*' it ii confide rahlc cxaditefs, to the average cffedla 

 of the fnn'ji hcac through ihc ycai^in the vUot whsrc ihc fj^ring ii 

 lound. E» 



