DEDICATION. 221 I have endeavoured to entertain younger minds, and entice them to these studies, by all those easy and agreeable operations relatingboth to the earth and the heavens, which probably may tempt them on to the higher specula- tions of the great Sir Isaac Newton and his followerson this subject. Yet there should be a due limit set to these enquiries too, according to the different employments of life to which we are called: For it is possible a genius of active curiosity may waste too many hours in the more ,bstruse parts of their snlljects which God and his country demand to be applied to the studies of the law, physic, or divinity; to merchandise or mechanical operations. If I had followed theconduct of mere inclination, perhaps I should have laid out more of my serene hours in speculations which are so illuring: And then indeed I might have performed what I have here attempted in a manner more answerable to my design, and left less for the critics to censure, and my friends to forgive. But such as it is, I put it entirely, Sir, into your hands to review and alter whatsoever you please, and make it answerable to that idea which I have formed of your skill. Then ifyou shall think fit topresent it to the world, I persuade myself I shall not be utterly disappointed in the views I had in putting these papers together, many of which have lain by me in silence above twenty years. Farewel, dear Sir, and forgive the trouble that you have partlydevolved on yourself by the too' favourable opinion you have conceived both of these sheets and of the writer of them, who takes a pleasure to tell the world that he is with great sincerity, Sir, \our most obedient Servant, L WATTS. 'l'heobalds in Hertfordshire, June li, 1725. TO THE READER. I THINK myself obliged, in justice to the ingenious author as well as the public, to assure them that the alterations I have ventured to make in the revisal of thil work, are but few and small. The same perspicuity of thought and ease of expression which distinguish his other works running through the whole of this, I don't question but the worldwill meet with equal pleasure and satisfaction in the perusal. JOHN LAMES. August 20, 1725.
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