10 tlevolutions and Improvements 



and oppositions of science falsely so called; yet that 

 little, if any thing, has been done toward the cul- 

 tivation of solid learning and real science, since 

 our fathers of the seventeenth centdry fell asleep.* 

 In the opinion, and in the language of such, the 

 present race of men are " a generation of triflers 

 '' and profligates, sciolists in learning, hypocrites 

 *' in virtue, and formalists in good breeding; v^ise 

 ^' only when they follow their predecessors, and 

 " visionary fools w^ienever they attempt to deviate 

 '' from, or go beyond them.'* With these cynical 

 critics novelty is degeneracy; and every thing 

 which bears the name of invention, discovery, or 

 improvement, is useless, if not dangerous innova- 

 tion. But this indiscriminate opposition to the 

 claims of modern times is evidently rather dic- 

 tated by prejudice than by enlightened views and 

 impartial observation. Though a change of cir- 

 cumstances may produce different degrees or kinds 

 of excellence in the efforts of intellect; yet the 

 native powers of man are doubtless the same in 

 all ages. It must be admitted, indeed, that in 

 some of the branches of human knowledge the 

 last age has added nothing to the attainments of 

 the preceding; and that many things which super- 

 ficial readers consider as new, were long since fami- 

 liarly known, and as well practised as at the pre- 

 sent day. In w^orks of genius, imagination, and 

 taste, there seems no good ground to represent 

 the present generation as possessing any peculiar 

 or transcendent excellence. Perhaps a candid in- 

 quirer would even say, that in these respects we 

 rather fall below than rise above the standards of 

 former times, and for this fact plausible if not sa- 

 tisfactory reasons may be assigned. But still, 

 amidst multiplied false theories, and much pompous 

 jargon, which have been too prevalent in the 

 world during the last century; though the field of 



