Pee oP wiht AG BS 
EON A TURAL Philofophy flourifhed firft in the Eaft. 
mea ae It was in great Petfetion among the Afjrians, 
Chaldeans, and Egyptians ; and, if their Knowlege 
of it had been faithfully conveyed to Pofterity, we 
; might have expected, that the next Age of Learn- 
ing in Greece would have been able to have made 
greater Progrefs in that noble Science. 
~ 
Cell at ay 
e 
%* ¢ But, alas! here Philofophy was forced to put 
“on a poetical Drefs, adorned by the Poets, its 
« Patrons, with Fables, and enlivened with extravagant Fancies. Nor 
“ was hens itfelf proof againft fo prevailing a Corruption.” 
‘This was the State of every Branch of Philofophy in Greece; nor did 
this Study meet with much better Succefs in the firft Part of the fucceed- 
ing Roman Empire. “ For while this was in its Infancy, during the Three 
« firft Ages, which were {pent in conquering Italy ; Stri€tnefs of Man- 
“ ners, and the Art of War, were their chief Study, and continued to be 
« {o, till they were Mafters of the Eaft.” Then Oratory became their 
Darling. Upon the Declenfion of the Roman Empire, the Darknefs of 
Ignorance, that enfued thro’ many fucceflive Ages, {pread like Elijah’s 
Cloud, and, in a Darknefs, like that of Egypt, enveloped the {mall Re- 
“mains of Learning in almoft a total Eclipfe. 
Nor did the Philofophical Part of it revive, or thew the leaft Spark of 
its native Brightnefs, till Gadileo in Izaly, and the great Bacon in England, 
became its Patrons. 
A It 
* Sprat’s Hiftory of the Raya! Society. 
