450 Additional Notes. 



prudence and discretion which are the foundation of success- 

 ful conduct. Such is the idea which Pope annexes to the 

 word, when, speaking of good sense, (which means only a 

 more than ordinary share of common sense) he calls it 



" The gift of Heaven, 

 And though no science, fairly worth the seven." 



" To speak, accordingly, of appealing from the conclu- 

 sions of philosophy to common sense, had the appearance, to 

 title-page readers, of appealing from the verdict of the learned 

 to the voice of the multitude; or of attempting to silence free 

 discussion, by a reference to some arbitrary and undeftnable 

 standard, distinct from any of the intellectual powers hitherto 

 enumerated by logicians. Whatever countenance may be sup- 

 posed to have been given by some writers to such an inter- 

 pretation of this doctrine, I may venture to assert, that none 

 is afforded by the works of Dr. Reid. The standard to 

 which he appeals is neither the creed of a particular sect, nor 

 the inward light of enthusiastic presumption ; but that con- 

 stitution of human nature without which all the business of 

 the world would immediately cease; and the substance of 

 his argument amounts merely to this — that those essential 

 laws of belief to which sceptics have objected, when con- 

 sidered in connection with our scientific reasonings, are im- 

 plied in every step we take as active beings; and, if called in 

 question by any man in his practical concerns, would expose 

 him universally to the charge of insanity." — Stewart'^ Life 

 of Reid, p. 118—120. 



Leibnitz, p. 14. 



Godfred William Leibnitz was born at Leipsic, irf 

 Saxony, in the year 1646. He was a prodigy of learning, 

 had an astonishing memory, and possessed great vigour and 

 versatility of talents. His works are very voluminous. His 

 doctrines concerning the mind may be gathered from his 

 Theodicea, published towards the close of the seventeenth 

 century. The system of philosophy taught in this work was 

 designed partly in emendation of the Cartesian, and partly in 

 opposition to the Newtonian. Leibnitz retained the subtle 

 matter, the universal plenitude, and the vortices of Des- 

 Cartes, but differed in some respects from that philosopher. 

 But against Sir Isaac Newton his scientific warfare was 

 principally directed. — He died in the year 17 16. 



