PREFACE. Xlll 



It has been a complaint of long standing in 

 the world, that nature has spread a veil over 

 the first principles of things, which man can 

 never hope to remove. But there is reason 

 to believe that all the great truths of science 

 which are of the highest importance for us to 

 know, are no less remarkable for simplicity, 

 than for the wide extent of their application ; 

 and that when fully unfolded, they will be self- 

 evident propositions. It is true enough, that 

 the most familiar phenomena of nature, when 

 viewed separately, or through the mystical 

 interpretation of visionary theorists, are as 

 " inscrutable as the scattered leaves of the 

 Sibyl :" but when traced to their origin, the 

 hidden meaning of every thing is gradually 

 disclosed, and order springs from chaos. It was 

 profoundly observed by Sir Edward Bulwer, 

 that " the key to all mystery is the desire to 

 know," and that " there is only a single step 

 from a truism to a great discovery." 



If we are destined ever to arrive at a per- 

 fect theory of nature, it must be founded on a 

 true history of the grand original, and a com- 

 plete knowledge of the prime mover. Nor 

 is it possible that men should avail themselves 

 fully of the powers which are in nature, with- 

 out knowing the cause of these powers. It 



