detail-parts, in some instances more, in others less. No one can understand D'Alembert's Elements without some previous knowledge of the subjects, to which they relate ; and the more minute and extended such previous knowledge is, the better prepared will a man be for a clear and correct apprehension of the general principles, upon which it is founded. It seems to me, therefore, quite impossible to distinguish general from particular knowledge with any kind of accuracy, in the same science or the same branch of science, or to say where the former ends, and the latter begins. What point, for instance, is there between a general knowledge in geometry or algebra, and a particular knowledge in these sciences? Where does the one end, and the other begin? Every attempt to fix such a point, would be quite arbitrary; and it would be fixed differently by different persons. In physics, ethics, metaphysics, and logic, (which may be considered as a branch of metaphysics,) it would be still more difficult to draw an accurate line of distinction. The subject of all these sciences is matter of fact and actual existence. Their elementary principles are drawn from observation and experience; nor can they be known, perhaps not understood, except in consequence of analytical induction. All existence and all fact, we know, is particular; all general propositions, therefore, and general reasonings upon facts of whatever kind, must be derived from particulars, from similarity or diversity observed in particulars. All these sciences have, no doubt, their general and fundamental principles; but, as these all arise out of particulars, I do not see that they could be known without a knowledge of such particulars. The same observations may be extended to practical sciences, or the arts. All these have their

general principles, but collected entirely from the observation of particulars. Thus medicine, surgery, chemistry, law, agriculture, the naval and military, the mechanic and the fine arts, have each their general and elementary rules, and would be nothing without them; yet are all these rules drawn from the same sources of observation and experience; nor can they be well understood except these sources are first well explored and known. Historical knowledge is clearly a mass of particulars, and is greater or less in proportion to the number of facts retained in the memory. Here, therefore, there seems to be no ground of distinction between general and particular knowledge; at least not in the same way as in the case of the sciences and the arts. A man may indeed have a less particular knowledge of the history of one state than another; but I do not see that such less particular could, with any propriety, be called more general knowledge. Upon the whole, I can hardly think that the proposer of this thesis had it in his contemplation to oppose general knowledge to particular in the same branches, and upon the same subjects. However, it would be perhaps right to say something in this way, if only to shew that no clear line of distinction can be drawn. The other way, in which general knowledge may be opposed to particular, is with respect to the different branches of science, and the different objects, which they severally have in view. Upon this idea I opposed professional to general knowledge. But professional is too narrow a word. I wish for a word, that would include in it every kind of practical knowledge, viz. military, naval, agricultural, commercial, as well as medicine, law, and theology. The word practical would perhaps do, were it not generally opposed to theoretical or

speculative, and these last words do not exactly correspond with the term general; the several branches of practical knowledge having each their theoretical principles, as well as those, which are theoretical and speculative throughout. In this view the distinction, I think, would be clear and determinate. All those branches of knowledge, which terminate in speculation merely, and whose direct object is the investigation of truth, I should consider as general knowledge, and as opposed to other branches, whose object is altogether practical. I meant to have entered more fully into this distinction; but I have neither paper nor time."*

*[Before I close the subject of Dr. N. Forster's correspondence with his son, the late Rev. E. Forster, I will mention what the widow of the latter has courteously communicated to me, and what will in some measure supply the deficiency in the notice of Mr. E. F., which I have already extracted from the Gentleman's Magazine:-" Paris, Aug. 10, 1828. I do not recollect to have ever heard of any monument or epitaph to the memory of Dr. Forster, nor do I know in what Church at Colchester he was buried. I am sorry it has not been in my power to send you a list of the various works my late husband was engaged in the publication of, sooner; but I hope it is not too late for the purpose you might require them for. They were these:

A History of Suffolk, for which he made considerable researches, and had proceeded to the printing of nearly one volume, when he abandoned it from want of sufficient subscribers to cover the expense of so extensive a work.

1802. A New Translation of The Arabian Nights, (by himself,) in 4 vols. 8vo. embellished with 24 Engravings from Designs by Smirke, executed by the first Engravers of the time-a beautiful work.

In offering to the perusal of the reader the following characteristic Letter of Dr. Parr, addressed to Dr. Nathaniel Forster, and without date, I shall make but one remark, viz. that his pointed observations about Bishop Hurd are not to be taken in a serious and strict sense, but only in the same limited and playful sense, in which are to be

1804. SCOTIA DEPICTA, or, The Antiquities, Castles, Public Buildings, Noblemen and Gentlemen's Seats, Cities, Towns, and Picturesque-Scenery of Scotland, illustrated in a Series of Etchings by JAMES FITTLER, from Drawings by J. C. NATTES; with Descriptions, Antiquarian, Historical, and Picturesque. Lond. fol.

1804. An Edition of Rasselas in 4to. with 5 Engravings, from Designs by Smirke.

The British Drama, in 5 vols. 8vo.

1805. The English Drama, of which only Shakespeare was published, with beautiful Engravings.

1806. An Edition of Shakespeare, in 2 vols. 8vo.

An Edition of Anacreon, Greek Type, with Vignettes, etc. from Designs of mine.

The British Gallery of Engravings, in 1 vol. consisting of finely executed Prints from Pictures by the old Masters, in private collections in England.

A Set of Prints from HAMILTON'S Etruscan Vases, engraved by Kirk, with descriptive Text by Mr. Forster. 1808. The New British Theatre, a voluminous work, with a great number of Plates.

1810. An Edition of Plautus with Notes. Two vols. of this work were printed, but relinquished, and partly lost, by the bankruptcy and subsequent death of his printer.

Besides these works, Mr. Forster wrote and delivered at the Royal Institution two, or, (I believe,) three Courses of Lectures; the first Course, on ancient Commerce; the other

understood the censures, which Dr. Parr has cast on his own conduct: "DEAR SIR,

I thank you for your Letter, and

agree with you upon all the main points. I had resolved carefully all the difficulties for and against acceptance before I decided, and in the justness of my decision I have a firm affiance. The question of right has not, to this very moment has not been fairly and directly investigated in Parliament, and with people not quite so phi

two, on Oratory. He was also engaged with Sir Walter Scott in an intended edition of Dryden's Works in 1808, and I have many Letters from that gentleman on the subject, expressing the deference he paid to Mr. Forster's judgment in various points respecting the publication, and more particularly in the punctuation, which he desired to leave entirely to Mr. Forster. Some disagreement with Mr. Miller, who was to be the publisher, put a stop to the work at that time, and it was resumed several years after by Sir Walter, who, I believe, undertook it alone. Several publications of less note were also undertaken by Mr. Forster, who was ever active in literary pursuits, or such as were connected with the fine arts, of which he was a very competent judge, as well as liberal encourager, as far as his means extended; but it is unnecessary to enumerate them."

On the first of August in the present year, were "published, (dedicated by permission to his Excellency, Viscount Granville,) Sermons, in 2 vols. 8vo. price one Guinea, preached at the Chapel of the Embassy, and at the Protestant Church of the Oratoire, in Paris, by the late Rev. E. Forster." E. H. B.]