14 Mechanical Philosophy/. 



to human capacity; and which far surpasses what 

 the most sanguine projectors of former times had 

 reason to anticipate. And the paths to yet further 

 improvements in this science are so clearly marked 

 out, that nothing seems requisite but honest in- 

 dustry, patience, and persevering attention, to en- 

 able future adventurers to penetrate into regions of 

 knowledge, at present far removed from the sight 

 of man. 



Though the Newtonian Philosophy is, perhaps, 

 one of the noblest products of human genius ever 

 given to the world; yet that great interpreter of 

 nature was by no means free from mistake, which 

 besets, and characterizes all human labours. — The 

 errors in this system, which probably, all things 

 considered, were as few as ever mingled themselves 

 with so extensive and important a fabric, were, 

 some of them, corrected by his successors; who., 

 while they could distinguish spots in this luminary 

 of science, yet were not backward to pay due 

 homage to his general and splendid excellence.' — • 

 But, though he had many philosophical adver- 

 saries, who called in question his right to the honour 

 of certain discoveries, and who opposed particular 

 doctrines, there were few who ventured to de- 

 clare war against the leading principles of his sys- 

 tem. This however was done by some, respecta=. 

 ble.both for their learning and talents. 



Among these, perhaps none are more worthy 

 of notice than the celebrated John Hutchinson, 

 of Great-Britain, and his followers, who occupy 

 a considerable space in the scientific history of 

 the eighteenth century. Mr. Hutchinson, dissa- 

 tisfied with the prevalence of Newton^s opinions, 

 and, perhaps, feeling some envy at his extended 

 fame, undertook to disprove the doctrines dis- 

 played in his Principia, as opposed to revelation, 

 and, of consequence, false. To effect this, he 



