Bee aplt ulation. 4 1 1 



other. Never did the inquirer stand at the con- 

 fluence of so many streams of knowledge as at the 

 close of the eighteenth century. 



But, in order to bring more immediately and 

 disinctly into view the leading characteristics of 

 the last age, as deducible from the statements 

 which have been given, an attempt will be made 

 to sum them up in the few following particulars: 



1. The last century was pre-eminently an age 

 of free inquiry. No period in the history of man 

 is so well entitled to this character. Two centuries 

 have not rolled away, since the belief that the earth 

 is globular in its form was punished as a damnable 

 heresy ; since men were afraid to avow the plainest 

 and most fundamental principles of philosophy, 

 government, and religion; and since the spirit of 

 liberal inquiry was almost unknown. In the se- 

 venteenth century, this spirit began to show it- 

 self; but it was reserved for the eighteenth to wit- 

 ness an indulgence and extension of it truly won- 

 derful. Never, probably, was the human mind, 

 all things considered, so much unshackled in its in- 

 quiries. Men have learned, in a greater degree 

 than ever before, to make light of precedent, and 

 to throw off the authority of distinguished names. 

 They have learned, with a readiness altogether 

 new, to discard old opinions, to overturn systems 

 which were supposed to rest on everlasting foun- 

 dations, and to push their inquiries to the utmost 

 extent, awed by no sanctions, restrained by no 

 prescriptions. 



This revolution in the human mind has been 

 attended with many advantages, and with many 

 evils. It has led to the developement of much 

 truth, and has contributed greatly to enlarge the 

 bounds of literature, science, and general improve- 

 ment. It has opened the way to a free communi- 

 cation of all discoveries, real or supposed, and re* 



