among them. They are all serious speculations of learned men--all
differ essentially from each other--and all have the same title to belief.
It has ever been the task of one race of philosophers to demolish the
works of their predecessors, and elevate more splendid fantasies in their
stead, which in their turn are demolished and replaced by the air-castles
of a succeeding generation. Thus it would seem that knowledge and genius,
of which we make such great parade, consist but in detecting the errors
and absurdities of those who have gone before, and devising new errors and
absurdities, to be detected by those who are to come after us. Theories
are the mighty soap-bubbles with which the grown-up children of science
amuse themselves while the honest vulgar stand gazing in stupid
admiration, and dignify these learned vagaries with the name of wisdom!
Surely Socrates was right in his opinion, that philosophers are but a
soberer sort of madmen, busying themselves in things totally
incomprehensible, or which, if they could be comprehended, would be found
not worthy the trouble of discovery.

For my own part, until the learned have come to an agreement among
themselves, I shall content myself with the account handed down to us by
Moses; in which I do but follow the example of our ingenious neighbors of
Connecticut; who at their first settlement proclaimed that the colony
should be governed by the laws of God--until they had time to make better.

One thing, however, appears certain--from the unanimous authority of the
before quoted philosophers, supported by the evidence of our own senses
(which, though very apt to deceive us, may be cautiously admitted as
additional testimony)--it appears, I say, and I make the assertion
deliberately, without fear of contradiction, that this globe really was
created, and that it is composed of land and water. It further appears
that it is curiously divided and parceled out into continents and islands,
among which I boldly declare the renowned island of New York will be found
by any one who seeks for it in its proper place.

FOOTNOTES:

[10] Aristot. ap, Cic. lib. i. cap. 3.

[11] Aristot. Metaph. lib. i. c. 5.; Idem, de Coelo, 1. iii, c.
I; Rousseau mem. sur Musique ancien. p. 39; Plutarch de Plac.
Philos. lib. i. cap. 3.

[12] Tim. Locr. ap. Plato. t. iii. p. 90.

[13] Aristot. Nat. Auscult. I. ii. cap. 6; Aristoph. Metaph. lib.
i. cap. 3; Cic. de N