108 Literary Associations. [Chap. XXIII 



side being more numerous, they were also more 

 extensive in their plan, and embraced a greater 

 number of distant and foreign associates ; they 

 directed more of their attention to the physical 

 sciences, and rendered the mode of inquiry by 

 experiment more general and more accurate ; 

 and, fmally, they were more active in their ex- 

 ertions, kept more heads and hands at work, and 

 engaged more of the public attention, than the 

 societies of preceding tinies^. 



