DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73713#0116
Ill . THE WORKS OF
believe it of any utility to others; but I am re^
Drained by two obstacles; the first is the diffi-
dence I seel in finding I am unable to explain
myself with that propriety necessary; the other
is the impossibility of communicating to others
a clear idea of these things without beginning
by the moft trivial precepts and elevating one
sels gradually to the molt sublime;which would
employ me in a very great work, superior to my
phytical or mental powers. Yet, nevertheless,
the will I have to oblige you, makes me set aside
every obftacle in order to write something, and
show you my ready obedience. I pray you
however, to receive this letter as a proof of our
friendsllip, an^ not as a treatise worthy to be
given to the public.
The major part of human inventions are pro-
duced from necessity, except however what we
call the fine arts, which are derived from the
inclination a man has for imitation. The ma-
terials which are employed in these, exist in na-
ture itself; and since she contains things whicli
in son^e manner resemble one another, I believe
that such resemblances have exited in men the
desire of supplying and adding the parts whicli
are desicient, or defective, to make them more
alike; and by these means os comparison, they
must have known how to find many things,
which then they executed by the artifice of
imitation.
To comprehend that whicli I have presently
to say, it is necessary that I should explain what
I mean by IPEA. By idea therefore I understand
believe it of any utility to others; but I am re^
Drained by two obstacles; the first is the diffi-
dence I seel in finding I am unable to explain
myself with that propriety necessary; the other
is the impossibility of communicating to others
a clear idea of these things without beginning
by the moft trivial precepts and elevating one
sels gradually to the molt sublime;which would
employ me in a very great work, superior to my
phytical or mental powers. Yet, nevertheless,
the will I have to oblige you, makes me set aside
every obftacle in order to write something, and
show you my ready obedience. I pray you
however, to receive this letter as a proof of our
friendsllip, an^ not as a treatise worthy to be
given to the public.
The major part of human inventions are pro-
duced from necessity, except however what we
call the fine arts, which are derived from the
inclination a man has for imitation. The ma-
terials which are employed in these, exist in na-
ture itself; and since she contains things whicli
in son^e manner resemble one another, I believe
that such resemblances have exited in men the
desire of supplying and adding the parts whicli
are desicient, or defective, to make them more
alike; and by these means os comparison, they
must have known how to find many things,
which then they executed by the artifice of
imitation.
To comprehend that whicli I have presently
to say, it is necessary that I should explain what
I mean by IPEA. By idea therefore I understand