54 



preservation; have been seen by hundreds; 

 and were found, together with the bones, rest- 

 ing on a limestone rock, about 5i feet below 

 the ground, in the county of Wythe, in Vir- 

 ginia. A part of the contents, with the whole 

 skeleton, are to be forwarded to William and 

 Mary College." 



There is a rational scepticism, justly recom- 

 mended by the great Bacon to the lovers of 

 knowledge. Philosophical doubt ought to be 

 carried into every department of science. Re- 

 peated experiments, accumulated facts, long 

 and attentive observations, can alone imprint 

 on our theories the sacred seal of truth, and 

 establish our opinions on a permanent basis. 

 And surely you will agree with me, that, ac- 

 cording to these remarks, finding a few crushed 

 vegetable substances blended with bones of an 

 animal, is not a suflicient criterion for the dis- 

 covery of his properties and affections. Besides, 

 a variety of circumstances might have concurred 

 to place the supposed contents of the stomach 

 in the situation they were found. An expiring 

 animal of ferocity and force might have torn 

 and masticated every substance within his reach; 

 — or the matter collected by Bishop Maddison 



