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ty toiffume various and even oppofite Ihapes ; fome- 

 times one opinion prevailed, fometimes another, in- 

 {cmuch. that thofe who undcrfland nothing of the 

 fubjedt, but yet are dcfirous of being infoimed, by 

 fearching it to the bottom, have hitherto been loll 

 in doubt and perplexity. 



There is neverthelefs a fureand infallible method, 

 by the adiftance of which it would be very eafy to 

 overturn all thefe fyftems; but not to enter into a 

 needlefs dftail of the extravagant notions, which the 

 Seat alone has given rife to ; I will here endeavour 

 to trace it from principles by fo much the more fo- 

 lid, as their authority will be fupported by the moft 

 convincing and felf evident reafons. 



In order to fucceed m an art v/here the mechanifm 

 of the body is abfolutely necelTary, and where each 

 part of the body has its proper fundions, which are 

 peculiar to that part; it is moft certain that all and 

 every part of the body fhould be in a natural pofture : 

 were they in an imperfecfl fituation they would want 

 that eafe and freedom which is infeparable from 

 grace ; and as every motion which is conftrained 

 being falfe in itfclf, and incapable of juftnefs, it is 

 clear that the part fo conllrained and forced would 

 throw the whole into confuiion; becaufe each part 

 belonging to and depending upon the whole body, 

 and the body partaking of the conltraint of its parts, 

 can never feel that fixed point, that jull counterpoife 

 and equality, in which alone a fine and juil execution 

 confifts. 



The objedls to which a maflcr, anxious for the ad- 

 vancem.ent of his pupil, fhould attend, are infinite. 

 To little purpofe will it be to keep the flrideft eye 



B upon 



