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it, by mufcles of a peculiar ftrudture. 

 To this hypothefis all Europe have yiel- 

 ded an implicit affent, and M. de Reau~ 

 mur has hitherto enjoyed the honour of 

 having developed the latent caufe of this 

 myfterious effedl. But if we may be 

 allowed to fuppofe, what is undoubtedly 

 true, that the mock of the Torpedo, 

 and that of the Torporific Eel, are both 

 communicated in a fimilar manner, and 

 by fimilar means, it will be no ways 

 difficult to demonftrate, that the whole 

 of M. de Reaumur § pretended difcovery 

 is a perfect non-entity. You may, per- 

 haps, think it an aft of prefumption in 

 me, to difpute the authority of a man, 

 whofe literary merit is fo univerfally ac- 

 knowledged ; but I am convinced, that 

 an implicit faith, in whatever is honou- 

 red with the fandlion of a great name, 

 has proved a fruitful fource of error in 

 philofophical refearches; and whilft I 

 have fenfe and faculties of my own, 

 O 2 am 



