[ *7 ] 



very itrong prefumption at lealt, if not a proof, of its veracity k . 

 It was from this confideration that the church of Rome at 

 length thought fit fo far to relax in her decifions, as to permit 

 the maintaining the earth's motion in phyfical and philofophical 

 difquifitions. But Sir Iiaac Newton, who built upon this bails 

 his experimental philofophy, hath difperfed all doubts on this 

 fubject, and fhewn how the moft fublime difcoveries may be 

 made by the reciprocal aids of fagacity and obfervation. On thefe 

 grounds, therefore, all enquiries of this nature ought to proceed, 

 without paying an implicit fubmimon to the mere fpeculative 

 notions even of the greateft men; but purfuing lteadily the 

 path of truth, under the direction of the light of experience. 



It may be urged, in excufe of the ancients, and even of our 

 anceftors in former times, that, as they were unaflifted by facts, 

 they could only employ guefs and conjecture, and that confe- 

 quently their conclulions were from thence erroneous. But to 

 waive the vifible impropriety of deciding in points (where obfer- 

 vation was fo obvioully neceflary) without its direction ; let us 

 fee whether this plea of alleviation may not be controverted in 

 both cafes. Cornelius Nepos reports, that fome Indians being 

 caft on more in Germany were fent by a prince of the Suevi 

 to Quintus Metellus Celer, then the Roman proconful in Gaul ! . 

 A very learned writer in difcuffing this point hath fhewn, that it 

 was poffible for thefe Indians to have come by two different routs 

 into the Baltic. He thinks, however, that it is very improbable 

 they came by either, and fuppofes that they were either Nor- 

 wegians, or fome other wild people to whom, from their favage 

 appearance, they gave the name of Indians m . But though this 



k Shaw's Abridgment of Bacon's Works, vol. II. p. 21. where the 

 doctor endeavours to defend this opinion. 

 1 Plin. Hift. Nat. lib. II. cap, 67. 



m Huet Hiftoire de Commerce, et de la Navigation des Anciens, 



K a obfervation 



