Metaphysical Disquisition

who love me so, who demand it so, it will seem proper; although the matter does not seem of such great importance to me. To be sure, I composed the work to gratify my friends, as they could not bear that the man had wished to obtain private censures from me and others for the sole end of being able to boast publicly that he did not lack adversaries, when in truth he had had none (at least he had not had me). But although I seemed to have satisfied those friends, I have not satisfied myself. For while they were of the opinion that, just as I had previously followed the sequence of the text, and Descartes had adapted his Responses to the individual articles of my Letter, I should likewise press my objections against each Response in that same order; yet to me the work seemed likely to be far more harmonious if, once the state of the case had been set forth, everything I had to say were woven together in a certain special and coherent arrangement. And they indeed countered that this should only be performed if, perhaps, Descartes were subsequently to offer something in reply that might require a fresh hand; but in the meantime, however, it is where-