A. The Knowledge and Study of natural Things, according to Reason and Experience. 2 Q. Whence is the Word Philosophy derived? A. From the Greek Word Philosophia, which signifies the Love of Wisdom. 3 Q. How are the Productions of the Earth distinguished? A. They are divided into three Classes, 1 the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdoms. 4 Q. What constitutes the first Class? A. The Animal Kingdom comprises every Creature that has Life and Feeling; (viz.) Men, Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Insects, &c. 5 Q. What is worthy our Regard in the Animal Creation? A. The flying of Birds through the Air; the swimming of Fishes in the Water; the beautiful Colours of Insects; the wonderful Variety of living Creatures, from the huge Elephant and Whale to the little Animalcula that cannot be seen with the naked Eye; each knowing its proper Food, and how to build its Habitation, by that surprising Instinct, which enables them to distinguish their Enemies, and to understand each other. 6 Q. What is the Vegetable Kingdom? A. It comprehends such Things as have Life without Feeling, as Trees, Shrubs, Flowers, Herbs, Grass, &c. 7 Q. Are not many of these totally useless? A. By no means; all are useful, either for Food, for Medicine, or some other Purpose. 8 Q. What does the Mineral Kingdom consist of? A. Such Things as have neither Feeling nor Life, as Stones and Metals. 9 Q. How many Sorts of Metals are there? A. Six; (viz.) Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, Lead, and Iron. 10 Q. What other valuable Things are found beneath the Earth's Surface? 4. Coals, Chalk, Brimstone, Limestone; Clay for Bricks, Pipes and Earthenware; Quicksilver, Chrystals, Diamonds, and Loadstone. 11 Q. Would not the Earth bẹ better if it was one wide extended Plain, without Mountains? 4. Certainly not: they receive the Vapours, the Rain and Snow, which Supply the Springs of Water: and besides attracting the Clouds, Mountains shelter the low Lands from bleak and cold Winds they are also the grand Magazine of Metals, Stones, &c. 12 Q. What is a Volcano? A. Combustible Materials burning in the Bowels of the Earth, emitting Smoke and Flame, and sometimes Torrents of melted Metals. 13 Q. What is an Earthquake? A. A sudden Shaking or Motion of the Earth, which has often been so vio lent as to throw down Buildings. Sometimes the Earth has opened, and swal lowed up whole Towns, with all their Inhabitants. 14 Q. What is the Cause of Earthquakes? A. The principal Cause of Earthquakes is the Rarefaction of the Air in the subterraneous Caverns of the Earth, occasioned by the Heat of Volcanos, or subterraneous Fire. 15 Q. What is Thunder and Lightning? A. Lightning is electrical Fire, darting from the Clouds, and is of the same Nature with that produced by the electrical Machine. Thunder is nothing more than the Sound of the Explosion, and is never heard till after the Flash is past. 16 Q. Is Lightning of any Use? |