Volume 1

Experiments and observations relating to various branches of natural philosophy; with a continuation of the Observations on air / By Joseph Priestley.

Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804.

Date:: 1779-1786

Credit: Experiments and observations relating to various branches of natural philosophy; with a continuation of the Observations on air / By Joseph Priestley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

17/538 (page 11)

$fbrer way to the attainment of real know-* ledge. ' * ; . * «* •,»' «V \ *■-* • * ’ * ** ^ ^ ** . * I* I do not pretend to be perfectly innocent in this refpedt myfelf ; but I think I have as little to reproach myfelf with on this head as moft of my brethren; and whenever I have drawn general conclufions too foon, I have been very ready to abandon them, as all my publications, and this volume in par¬ ticular, will evidence. I have alfo repeatedly cautioned my readers, and I cannot too much inculcate the caution, that they are to con- llder new facts only as difcoveries, and mere deductions from thofe fadts, as of no kind of authority; but to draw all conclufions, and form all hypothefes, for themfelves. * ** * 1 l C ? J i”j W.’- *- J .w Having now begun a new work, it may perhaps be expedted, by thofe who are pleafed to think favourably of my paft labours, that I fhould proceed with the fame fuccels. But nothing can be more uncertain than this. I before compared philofophizing to huntings and though hitherto I have been$