b INTRODUCTION. * 



writer, " and much curious speculation to the re- 

 flecting mind, that, probably, not a system of phi- 

 losophy exists among the moderns, which had not 

 its foundation laid upon some one opinion or ano- 

 ther of the ancient theorists, and the outlines of 

 which may not be found in such of their writings 

 as have come down to our time. Even the New- 

 tonian doctrine of gravitation was not unknown to 

 Lucretius ; for that poet, in his first book, attempts 

 to refute the idea that the universe had a centre, 

 to which all things tend by their natural gravity. 

 That the central point had the strongest power of 

 attraction, was equally an hypothesis of Sir Isaac 

 Newton and the ancient stoics *." The ingenious 

 writer might have extended his remark much far- 

 ther, and have gone into a very amusing detail on 

 this subject. Some facts, tending to confirm his 

 position, will appear in the following pages |. Let 

 us beware, however, of carrying the principle be- 

 yond due bounds. 



A difficulty also arises, in attempting to make 

 the proposed estimate, from the disposition of man 

 to magnify present objects. It is an old remark, 

 that iinportant persons and scenes acquire an addi- 

 tional magnitude in our eyes when viewed from a 

 distance. But it is as true, that the same error of 



* Drake's Literary HovrSy vol. i. p. 12^ 13. 



t Those who wish to see this subject farther elucidated; may 

 consult a very amusing work of M, Dutens, entitled Origine des 

 Decouvertes attributes aux Modernes , Sj-c . 2 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1/66. 

 And although the impartial reader will frequently perceive, tliat 

 the author carries his determination to withhold from tlie moderns 

 the credit due to them, for many dii5coveries, to an extravagant and 

 ridiculous length, yet the work undoubtedly contains much in- 

 structive and valuable matter. 



