THE PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE. xiii 



formed by the one, or produced by the other. 

 Human knowledge has been elegantly analyfed 

 according to the three great faculties of the mind, 

 memory, reafon, and imagination, which we con- 

 ftantly find employed in arranging and retaining, 

 comparing and diftinguiming, combining and di- 

 versifying, the ideas which we receive through our 

 fenfes, or acquire by reflection • hence the three 

 main branches of learning are hiJiory,fcicnce, and 

 art. The- firit comprehends either an account of 

 natural productions, or the genuine records of 

 empires and ftates ; the fecond embraces the whole 

 circle of pure and mixed mathematics, together 

 with ethicks and law, as far as they depend on 

 the reafoning faculty - % and the third includes all 

 the beauties of imagery, and the charms of inven- 

 tion, difplayed in modulated language, or repre- 

 fented by colour, figure, or found. 



Agreeably to this analyfis, you will inveiiigate 

 whatever is rare in the Itupendous fabrick of na- 

 ture ; will correct the geography of Ajla by new 

 obfervations and difcoveries ; will trace the annals, 

 and even traditions, of thofe nations, who, from 

 time to time, have peopled or defoiated it; and 

 will bring to light their various forms of govern- 

 ment, with their inltitutions civil and religious. 

 You will examine their improvements and methods 

 in arithmetick and geometry, in trigonometrv, 

 menfuration, mechanicks, opticks, aftronomy, and 

 general phyficks ; their fy Items of morality, gram- 

 mar, rhetorick, and dialeclick ; their (kill in chi- 

 rurgery and medicine ; and their advancement, 

 whatever it may be, in anatomy and chemiilry. 

 To this you will add refearches into their agricul- 

 ture, 



