The principles of natural philosophy: with some remarks upon the fundamental principles of the Newtonian philosophy. In a introductory letter to Sir Hildebrand Jacob, Bart.

Date:
1754
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles of natural philosophy: with some remarks upon the fundamental principles of the Newtonian philosophy. In a introductory letter to Sir Hildebrand Jacob, Bart. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    V As to the following EJfays, I fhall fay bus little. Tho’ the plan be new, 1 hope it will be univerfally approved, as it is certainly regu¬ lar. The only way to attain the knowlege of any piece of mechanifm and its powers, is to be acquainted with the diftindt materials and members of which it is compofed, and to underftand their proper bearings and adjudg¬ ments ; without this, we fhall be amufed with myfteries, where there are none. The Effays have another property, which, I flatter my- felf, cannot fail to recommend them. They are fhort; which is the beft recommendation they can have, next to their being well execut¬ ed. If they do not give fatisfaction in this latter refpedt, it is not for want of inclination in the Author to fatisfy his Readers. But if I have contributed to point out the way to a more juft and general acquaintance with natural truth, I final! rejoice to be fupplanted in the profecution by fome abler hand. Tho’ they are denominated The principles and properties of matter and motion, yet I am obliged to make feveral of thefe properties negative ones, in order to ftrip the materials of the machine of thofe falfe properties* which D 2 do
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