D'ALEMBERT. 493 



almost exalted the nature of man above its destined sphere, 

 when, admitted to a fellowship with these loftier minds, we 

 discover how it comes to pass that, by universal consent, they 

 hold a station apart, rising over all the great teachers of 

 mankind, and spoken of reverently, as if Newton and Laplace 

 were not the names of mortal men. 



The highest of all our gratifications in the contemplations 

 of science remains : we are raised by them to an understand- 

 ing of the infinite wisdom and goodness which the Creator 

 has displayed in his works. Not a step can we take in any 

 direction without perceiving the most extraordinary traces of 

 design ; and the skill everywhere conspicuous is calculated, in 

 so vast a proportion of instances, to promote the happiness of 

 living creatures, and especially of our own kind, that we can 

 feel no hesitation in concluding that, if we knew the whole 

 scheme of Providence, every part would be found in harmony 

 with a plan of absolute benevolence. Independently, how- 

 ever, of this most consoling inference, the delight is inex- 

 pressible of being able to follow 3 as it were, with our eyes, 

 the marvellous works of the Great Architect of Nature to 

 trace the unbounded power and exquisite skill which are 

 exhibited in the most minute, as well as the mightiest parts 

 of his system. The pleasure derived from this study is 

 unceasing, and so various, that it never tires the appetite. 

 But it is unlike the low gratifications of sense in another 

 respect : while those hurt the health, debase the understand- 

 ing, and corrupt the feelings, this elevates and refines our 

 nature, teaching us to look upon all earthly objects as insigni- 

 ficant and below our notice, except the pursuit of knowledge 

 and the ^ cultivation of virtue ; and giving a dignity and 

 importance to the enjoyment of life, which the frivolous and 

 the grovelling cannot even comprehend. 



Extracts from the Preliminary Discourse to the e Political 

 Philosophy,' published by the Useful Knowledge Society. 



It is obvious that of all the sciences which form the subject 

 of human study, none are calculated to afford greater pleasure, 

 and few so great to the student, as the important one of which 



