ill Science^ ArtS:, and Literature. 13 



the admiring world appears no longer to hesitate 

 in placing the discoveries of this wonderful genius 

 among the most important that were ever made 

 by man, and among the very few which may justly 

 lay claim to immortality. 



And if the intellectual system of Locke have 

 gained a sway less general and potent, than th(? 

 physical doctrines of his great contemporary ; still, 

 perhaps, his genius ought to be considered as but 

 little inferior. A\'hat though a {^w respectable me- 

 taphysicians, since his day, have pointed out some 

 errours in his principles, and suggested some valua- 

 ble improvements in his philosophy of mind ? They 

 were taught by him to think and to reason. They 

 stood on ground which his wisdom and diligence 

 had gained. As long as the human faculties con- 

 tinue to be objects of study, this illustrious man 

 must be considered one of the greatest fathers of 

 knowledge, and his writings as forming a distin- 

 guished a^ra in the history of science. 



But though no, builders in the temple of science 

 have risen to the same rank with those master 

 WORKMEN, whose names have been mentioned ; 

 yet many distinguished men, within the period of 

 which we are speaking, have contributed their 

 labours to enlarge, to simplifv, to strengthen, and 

 to adorn the edifice, with honourable success. Of 

 these, time would fail us to recount even the prin- 

 cipal names. The most general and superficial 

 views only of their laudable achievements can be 

 faer^ giyen. 



