I have... attempted to throw some new light on the general properties of matter in other forms: and on the doctrine of heat, which is materially conc… - Thomas Young

[T]he lectures... may be expected to remain tolerably commensurate to the state of the sciences for a much longer period; since, in investigations so intimately connected with mathematical principles, the essential improvements will always bear a very small proportion to the number of innovations. ...the references, which it contains, are... sufficient to lead those, who may consult the passages quoted, to the works of every author of eminence that has treated of the respective subjects.

The arrangement of the whole work is probably different... from any other... the extent of the subjects... rendered it necessary to preserve a... methodical and uniform system; and it is presumed, that this arrangement will be... of some value, especially in a work calculated to serve as a key, by means of which, access may be obtained to all the widely scattered treasures of science; and which will enable those... desirous of extending their researches in any particular department, to obtain expeditiously all the information that books can afford them.

The theory of the tides has been reduced into an extremely simple form, which appears to agree better with all the phenomena, than the more intricate calculations which they have commonly been supposed to require.