This collection of essays and observations offers a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual world of 18th century Edinburgh. From discussions of the latest scientific developments to literary critiques and philosophical debates, these papers offer a rich and varied view of one of Europe's most vibrant intellectual communities. With contributions from some of the leading lights of the day, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of science and culture. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.