378  Mr.  milner  on  the  Communication  of 
theory  cannot  fail  to  add  frefh  evidence  to  thefe  efta- 
blifhed  laws  of  nature. 
I Hi  all  conclude  thefe  remarks  with  obferving  that 
fince  it  is  perhaps  impoffible  to  give  one  general  anfwer 
to  all  the  arguments  which  are  brought  in  favour  of  the 
new  do6trine  of  forces,  it  feemed  very  defireable  that  we 
fhould  have  a general  rule  to  diredt  us  in  judging  of  the 
cafes  that  occur  in  practice.  It  is  of  more  confequence  to 
the  improvement  of  fcience  and  the  good  of  the  public, 
to  point  out  the  fource  of  miftakes,  and  the  wifeft  means 
of  avoiding  them  for  the  future,  than  merely  to  confute 
and  filence  our  adverfaries.  Some  writers  have  con- 
lidered  this  queftion  as  entirely  verbal,  and  have  affedted 
to  treat  the  advocates  on  both  tides  with  the  greateft  con- 
tempt. Such  perfons  fave  themfelves  a great  deal  of 
trouble,  and  have  the  credit  of  feeing  farther  into 
the  controverfy  than  others ; but  after  all,  I am  afraid 
the  practical  mechanic  will  receive  little  information  or 
fecurity  from  fuch  fpeculations.  Propriety  of  expreffion 
in  thefe  matters  is  not  all  we  want.  When  a plan  is  pro- 
pofed  for  execution,  and  a certain  effedt  predicted,  the 
grand  object  is,  how  to  form  a fure  judgement  before- 
hand of  the  event,  in  order  to  prevent  unneceffary  ex- 
pellees ; and  I fliall  think  my  time  well  employed,  if  thefe 
confl- 
