Chap. 2. PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOVERIES. 63

tions and retarded their progress. It seems that, howeverfertile this period was in new inventions, nature did not unveilherself readily enough to satisfy the impatience of somemen, who could not be contented with those views of herwhich time and industry produced to them. Therefore theyhearkned again to the vain promises of those who pretended tounravel all her mysteries at once, by the force of their abstractedspeculations. The Cartejian system was the most extensive,and (according to many) the most exquisite in its contrivance,of any that have been imagined. The author of it was abold philosopher, and doubtless of a subtle genius, to in-dulge which he retired from the world for many years. Hevalued himself on his clear ideas, and is allowed to have con-tributed to dissipate the darkness of that sort of science whichprevailed in the schools. If we may believe some accounts,he rejected a void from a complaisance to the taste which thenprevailed, against his own first sentiments; and amongst hisfamiliar friends, used to call his system his philosophical ro-mance. It had however great success ; and his doctrines stillprevail so much, that it is necessary for our purpose to give ashort account of them.

CHAP.