Mechanical Philosophi). 19 



in a mathematical method. He was one of the 

 most voluminous writers in philosophy which 

 the century afforded, and is considered as the 

 great interpreter and advocate of the Leibnitzian 

 system. 



Another thconj of mailer, which distinguished 

 the eighteenth century, was that of Father Bosco- 

 vicK, a learned Jesuit of Italy. — Newton paid 

 little attention to the individual atoms of v/hich 

 matter is composed. The attraction and repulsion 

 of which he spoke, appear to refer chiefly to the 

 -laws of motion of the larger bodies which we be- 

 hold. He expressed a suspicion, indeed, that 

 *' As the great movements of the solar system are 

 *^ regulated by universal gravitation ; so the mutual 

 *' actions of the particles of matter are produced 

 '^ and regulated by tendencies of a similar kind, 

 ^' equally, but not more inexplicable; and the 

 " principles of which are to be discovered by as 

 " careful an attention to the phenomena, and by 

 " the same patient thinking v/hich he had em- 

 ^^ ployed on the planetary motions." But he seems 

 to have willingly yielded to some able and diligent 

 inquirer who should come after him, both the la- 

 bour and the honour of exploring this -extensive 

 jield of speculation. 



Such an .inquirer was the illustrious Boscovtch, a 

 man equally distinguished for the purity of his moral 

 iind religious character, the depth ot liis erudition, 

 and the native vigour and acuteness of his mind. 

 A few years alter the death of the great British phi- 

 losopher, he published a new theory of matter. In 

 this theory, the whole mass of which the bodies of 

 the universe are composed, is supposed to consist 

 of an exceeding great, yet finite, number of sim- 

 ple, indivisible, inextended atoms These atoms 

 are endued by the Creator with repulsive and at'- 



