Meclianical Philosophy. 75 



Nor has America been destitute of zealous stu- 

 dents, and successful observers in astronomy. Be- 

 sides the illustrious Rittenhouse, before men- 

 tioned, whose name alone would rescue his coun- 

 try from the charge of deficiency in astronomical 

 genius, we can boast of Golden,' WinthroPj 

 EwiNG, BowDoiN, Madison, Page, Patterson, 

 Ellicott, Willard, and several others,-' who, 

 if they have not made splendid discoveries, nor 

 great additions to astronomical science, have yet 

 published useful observations, and contributed to 

 promote that degree of taste for this branch of phi- 

 losophy which exists in our country. 



From the foregoing review, it will appear, that 

 almost every part of mechanical philosophy, dur- 

 ing the eighteenth century, has undergone great 

 and radical improvements; and that the path is 

 evidently marked out to still greater and more in- 

 teresting attainments. For much of this progress 

 we are indebted to accident; but our obligations 

 are also great to the genius and industry of indivi- 

 duals, and the labours and publications of many 

 learned societies, who have with honourable zeal 

 and perseverance encouraged experiments and en- 

 terprizes of discovery; and collected and made 



t See Principles of Action in Matter^ and the motion of the Planets eX" 

 plained from those Principles, &c. by Cadwallader Colden, Esq. 4to. 

 JLondon, Dodsley, 1753. -^"^ ^^so a subsequent publication by the same 

 author, in the form of a Letter to the Earl of Macclesfield, explaining 

 the doctrines contained in the former work. Mr. Golden was for some 

 years prior to the American Revolution Lieutenant-Governor of the pro- 

 vince of New-York. Whatever may be thought of some of the opinions 

 exhibited in these publications, they display genius, learning, and an un- 

 usual taste for mathematical and astronomical inquiries. 



j The specimens which have been given to the public of the astronomi- 

 cal learning and skill of most of the gentlemen mentioned above, and 

 of some other Americans, may be found in the volumes of Transactions 

 which have been published by the Ainerican Philosophical Society^ and in 

 the Memoin of the American Acade??iy of Arts and Sciences, 



