as tho' he had been a King who had made his People happy.
The Engliſh read with the higheſt Satisfaction, and tranſlated into their Tongue, the Elogium of Sir Iſaac Newton, which Mr. de Fontenelle, ſpoke in the Academy of Sciences. Mr. de Fontenelle preſides as Judge over Philoſophers; and the Engliſh expected his Deciſion, as a ſolemn Declaration of the Superiority of the Engliſh Philoſophy over that of the French. But when 'twas found that this Gentleman had compar'd Des Cartes to Sir Iſaac, the whole Royal Society in London roſe up in Arms. So far from acquieſcing with Mr. Fontenelle's Judgment, they criticis'd his Diſcourſe. And, even ſeveral (who however were not the ableſt Philoſophers in that Body) were offended at the Compariſon; and for no other reaſon but becauſe Des Cartes was a Frenchman.
It muſt be confeſs'd that theſe two great Men differ'd very much in Conduct, in Fortune, and in Philoſophy.
