ERRATA. VOL. I. Page 3. line 22. for visable read visible. 5. line 11. after the word state insert and. 15. second line from the bottom, for gea read gaia. 15. second line from the bottom, let metreo be in italics, and insert to after it. 24. line 22. for qantity read quantity. 24. last line but one, for considered read considered as numbers. 89. after line 21. add, Ex. From 22 6. 93. line 12. instead of 60 Take 4. 7325. · 4. read 60 + 4. 109. line 4. for 1, 2 of 4 read 1, 1 of 2, 2 of 4. 118. line 14. for of read by. 122. line 6. for toins read tions. 138. last line, for by read than. 140. line 5 from the bottom, for so as to read so that her shadow shall. 144. line 1. for The read His. 161. line 14. for Wardlaus read Wardhas. 164. line 18. for Bankok read Bancok. 187. line 17. for Gibralter read Gibraltar. 187. line 19. for Carthagenians read Carthaginians. VOL. II. Page 31. line 5. for p ane read plane. 38. line 3 from the bottom, for rubbing read rubbing with silk or flannel. 39. line 3. for to be electric read to be an electric. Page 39. line 9. for hand which read hand, &c. which. 40. last line, for the read an. 45. last line but one, for amalgama or quick silver 67. line 12. for Tangsten read Tungsten. 67. line 26. for common y read commonly. 78. line 14. for hyacynth read hyacinth. 86. last line, for Lodine read Iodine, and for Gasses read Gases. 88. line 10. for Chromeium read Chromium. 100. line 21. for gasses read gases. 102. line 1. for calcined read the oxyd of. 104. third line from the bottom, delete a great. 124. line 4. for thin read then. 130. line 5. for Colorimeter read Calorimeter. 130. line 26. for unorganized read unorganized sub stances. 137. last line but one, for Acasia read Acacia. 147. line 1 and 2. for the examples may be given of them read examples of them. 147. line 6. for Irides read Irises. 147. line 17. for 6 read 4. 148. line 1. delete 5. 148. line 17. for Crytogamia read Cryptogamia. 177. line 6. for Drionæa read Dionæa 188. line 17. for spir read sper. 191. line 16. for carniverous read carnivorous. 196. line 12. for skins read shells. 198. line 9. for lipas read lepas. 198. line 12. for tæniae read tenia. 299. line 26. for foams read foam. 319. line 8. for are read is. A GENERAL VIEW OF THE SCIENCES AND ARTS, CHAPTER I. MATTER AND ITS PROPERTIES. THE Sciences exhibit the amount of that knowledge of the objects and operations of nature, which the human mind has acquired. By nature is meant the vast creation; the work of God, the supreme intelligence, the eternal self-existent, omnipresent, and immutable First Cause, infinitely powerful, wise, and good. The Arts are the various applications of the Sciences, which men have made to their wants and comforts. Universal Science may be arranged in six general divisions, subdivided into many particular branches. The six general divisions of universal Science are, matter considered abstractedly, general physics, particular physics, literature, morals, politics. MATTER CONSIDERED ABSTRACTEDLY. Metaphysics is that science which considers the facts and theories relative to matter, and which do not involve particular objects. The original meaning of the word matter is, that something of which all things are made; which is the basis, the substratum of all forms and qualities; that which stands under, or supports, the various appearances that present themselves to our observation. Of this, human intellect, in its present limited state, knows little or nothing more than its properties. Many philosophers have imagined all matter to be essentially the same, or homogeneous; and have thought that the innumerable varieties which appear in the objects around us, cognizable by our senses, proceed entirely from different combinations of particles of the same matter. Others have supposed that these differences proceed from particles of matter possessing different qualities. The properties attributed to matter are, solidity, which includes extension and impenetrability, divisibility, moveability, inertness, or rest, attraction. Solidity is length, breadth, and thickness, which, therefore, comprehends the idea of extension, that is, length and breadth, or form; and that of impenetrability, that is, the resist ance opposed by any one body, to the entrance of any other body, into the portion of space which it fills, until it has, itself, quitted that portion of space. By this property of impenetrability, or resistance, alone, we gain the idea of solidity. In this sense, solidity is a property common to all bodies, whether solid or fluid. It appears to be the most extensive property of matter, as being that by which we conceive it to fill space; and is distinguished from mere space, by the latter not being capable of resistance, or motion. Solidity, likewise, is distinguished from hardness, which is only a firm cohesion of solid particles. The difficulty of changing situation does not render the hardest body more solid than the softest. The diamond is not, properly, more solid than water. Divisibility is a passive property in matter, whereby each particle is separable, either actually or mentally. Every extended corpuscle must have two sides, and, consequently, is divisable. We cannot conceive of a particle of matter, without the accompanying idea of its having two sides, or an upper and lower surface, and of the possibility of those surfaces, or sides, being divided. Though, therefore, the infinite divisibility of matter may be beyond human comprehension, yet it cannot be absolutely denied ; for however minute a body may be, still we can form the conception of its being further divided. The subtilty of the particles of many bodies is such, as far to surpass our comprehension, and yet there are innumerable instances, in nature, |