had ſail'd round the World, and cou'd deſtroy Cities by an artificial Thunder more dreadful than the real one: But, then they were not acquainted with the Circulation of the Blood, the Weight of the Air, the Laws of Motion, Light, the Number of our Planets, &c. And a Man who maintain'd a Theſis on Ariſtotle's Categories; on the univerſals a parte rei, or ſuch like Nonſenſe, was look'd upon as a Prodigy.
The moſt aſtoniſhing, the moſt uſeful Inventions, are not thoſe which reflect the greateſt Honour on the human Mind. 'Tis to a mechanical Inſtinct, which is found in many Men, and not to true Philoſophy, that moſt Arts owe their Origin.
The Diſcovery of Fire, the Art of making Bread, of melting and preparing Metals, of building Houſes, and the Invention of the Shuttle are infinitely more beneficial to Mankind than Printing or the Sea-Compaſs: And yet theſe Arts were invented by uncultivated, ſavage Men.
