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much as, without them, no works could be carried intoexecution. The laws of mechanics are founded on thoseof nature, and are illustrated by studying the master-movements of the universe itself. For if we consider thesun, moon and the five planets, we shall perceive, that ifthey were not duly poised in their orbits, we shouldneither have light on the earth, nor heat to mature itsfruits. Our ancestors so reasoned on these motions, thatthey adopted nature as their model; and, led to an imi-tation of the divine institutions, invented machinesnecessary for the purposes of life. That these might besuitable to their different purposes, some were con-structed with wheels, and were called machines; otherswere denominated organs. Those which were foundmost useful were gradually improved, by repeated expe-riments, by art, and by the laws which they instituted.Let us, for an instant, reflect on an invention, necessarilyof an early period, that of clothing; wherein, by the or-ganic arrangement of the loom, the connexion of the warpto the woof not only defends our bodies by the coveringit affords, but is likewise an ornament to them. Again;how should we be supplied with food, but for the yokesand ploughs to which oxen and other animals are har-nessed? Without the aid of wheels and axles, of pressesand levers, we could enjoy neither the comforts of goodoil, nor of the fruit of the vine. Without the aid of cartsand waggons on land, and ships on the sea, we shouldbe unable to transport any of our commodities. Hownecessary also, is the use of scales and weights in ourdealings, to protect us from fraud. Not less so are in-numerable different machines, which it is unnecessary hereto discuss, since they are so well known from our dailyuse of them, such as wheels generally, the blacksmith’sbellows, chariots, caleches, lathes, and other things whichour habits constantly require. We will, therefore, pro-ceed to explain, in the first place, those which are morerarely wanted.