9 
the Attractions of Spheroids of every Description. 
hand, the genius of the author is so far above the ordinary 
cast; his knowledge of the subjects he treats is so profound; 
and the correctness of his views is established by so many 
important discoveries, that so high an authority is not to be 
contradicted on any material point without the greatest cau- 
tion and on the best grounds. It is also to be observed that 
the Mecanique Celeste has now been many years -before the 
public: and although the problem of attractions is the foun- 
dation of many important researches, and is more particularly 
recommended to the notice of mathematicians by the novelty 
and uncommon turn of the analysis ; on which account it may 
be supposed to have been scrutinized with more than an or- 
dinary degree of curiosity ; yet nobody has hitherto called in 
question the accuracy of the investigation. These considera- 
tions will no doubt occasion whatever is contrary to the doc- 
trines of Laplace, and more especially to his theory of the 
attractions of spheroids, to be received with some degree of 
scepticism : they ought certainly to do so ; but our respect even 
for his authority ought not to be carried so far, as to preclude 
all criticism of his works, or dissent from his opinions. The 
writings of no author on any subject deserve to have more 
respect and deference paid to them, than the writings of La- 
place on the subject of physical astronomy ; with this no one 
can be more deeply impressed than the author of this dis- 
course; and it w r as not till after much meditation that, yielding, 
to the force of the proofs which are now to be detailed, he 
has ventured to advance any thing in opposition to the highest 
authority, in regard to mathematical and physical subjects* 
that is to be found in the present times. 
MDCCCXII. C 
» 
