Recapitulation. 413 



has been accomplished in various plans of classifi- 

 cation, in the corrections of nomenclature, and in 

 additions to the former lists of specimens in natural 

 history, more particularly in zoology, botany, and 

 mineralogy, is too great to be collected or exhi- 

 bited by any individual. A similar extension 

 of our knowledge has taken place in Medicine, 

 in Agriculture, in Geography, and in the princi- 

 ples, as well as practice of Mechanic Arts. All 

 these come under the general denomination of 

 Physical Science. It is too evident to admit of a 

 doubt, that there never was a period in which so 

 much enlightened attention was paid to objects 

 of this kind, or any thing like such a sum of 

 improvement introduced as in the eighteenth cen- 

 tury. 



Some observers of the revolutions and progress 

 of science have divided the century under review 

 into three parts, and considered each part as par- 

 ticularly distinguished by the cultivation of one of 

 the principal physical sciences. From 1700 till 

 1735, the Neivtonian Philosophy engaged the 

 largest share of the attention of the learned. How 

 great a portion of the publications and controver- 

 sies of that day had a respect to this philosophy, the 

 well-informed reader will not be at any loss to re- 

 collect. From 1735 till about the year 1765 or 1770, 

 may be called the period of Natural History f j as the 

 various branches of study included in this general 

 denomination, more especially zoology and botany, 

 were never before, in any comparable degree, so 

 much cultivated. For this prevalence of the study 

 of Natural History we are, perhaps, indebted to the 

 genius, labours and influence of no two individuals 

 so much as to those of Linsueus, and the Count 

 De Buffon. From 1770 till 1801, may be styled 

 the period of Chemistry; that science having given 

 •rise to more numerous experiments and publican 



