CHAP. I.] MECHANICAL EXPLANATION. 29 



abstract can be securely grafted ; that intelligence 

 which is derived from experience, from observation, 

 experiment, and acute reasoning, being rendered 

 more understandable when conveyed with mechani- 

 cal precision ; and, however strange it may appear 

 to some, the gift of speed, if not 'of a\\ progression, 

 depends more upon mechanical principles than is 

 commonly understood to be the case. See farther 

 onward, at Section 9, where further details are given. 

 In all compound bodies, whether animate or inani- 

 mate, intended for our active use, it is above all other 

 things requisite that they should stand well upon 

 their bases or legs. A horse, or a joint stool, evi- 

 dently defective in this particular quality, would be 

 shunned as insecure , and the one is sometimes en- 

 dued with movements as little suited to one's ideas 

 of getting on safely as the other ; both being in- 

 debted to its original bad built (or charpente, as 

 Lafosse calls it) for the defect. Cover them both, 

 the one with muscle and skin, the other with mo- 

 rocco and drapery, how you will, the faulty legs 

 are faulty still. As to this point a good stable apho- 

 rism has it thus — " a horse that does not stand well 

 can do nothing well ;" and, by a very natural in- 

 ference, " the horse that walks well can perform 

 all other paces well." 



A much better example, however, may be found 

 in a four-legged table, of which every horseman 

 knows there are many of different sizes and of 



chanics." If we required justification for the views we then took, we 

 should turn for it to the first three columns of that tract. 



c3 



