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all Univerfities in Europe. This prevalent 
philofophy, he, in a great meafure, overturn- 
ed. He began by proving the exiftence of 
matter in oppofition to Ariftotle, who faid, 
non eft quid> nee quantum nee quale. 
I will now give you a fketch of the hy- 
pothetical fyftem of this celebrated French 
philofopher. He imagined three diftincl: 
fpecies of elements. 
i ft. Infinitely minute, and of no deter- 
mined figure, but confifting of particles 
ready to adapt themfelves to every inter- 
ftice between the globules which compofe 
the fecond, and thereby prevent a vacuum. 
2dly. An element compofed of atoms per- 
feclly fpherical, produced by the continued 
fridion of the angular and more grofs par- 
ticles of the third element, which being firft 
created and fuppofed to be rapidly whirled 
round its centre circa centra fua gy rare 
gradually rubbed off its angles, and thefe 
filings r amenta ilia qua e corporibus eruuntur 
formed the firft element that filled up 
the chinks. 
3dly. An element compofed of the grofs 
particles of matter, exceeding the firft and 
fecond in magnitude, lefs fit for motion, 
D but 
