on the others strong Conceptions, by soberer Degrees, to a full Accomplishment.
Sect. XIII.
Their way of Inquiry into remote Matters. This they have practis'd in such Things whereof the Matter is common, and wherein they may repeat their Labours as they please. But in foreign and remote Affairs, their Intentions and their Advantages do far exceed all others. For these they have begun to settle a Correspondence through all Countries; and have taken such Order, that in short Time there will scarce a Ship come up the Thames, that does not make some return Experiments, as well as of Merchandize.
This their Care of an universal Intelligence is befriended by Nature itself, in the Situation of England: For, lying so as it does, in the Passage between the Northern Parts of the World and the Southern; its Ports being open to all Coasts, and its Ships spreading their Sails in all Seas; it is thereby necessarily made, not only Mistress of the Ocean, but the most proper Seat for the Advancement of Knowledge. From the Positions of Countries arise not only their sevcral Shapes, Manners, Customs, Colours, but also their different Arts and Studies. The Inland and Continent we see do give Laws to Discourse, to Habits, to Behaviour; but those that border upon the Seas, are most properly seated to bring home Matter for new Sciences, and to make the same Proportion of Discoveries above others in the intellectual Globe, as they have done in the Material.
Upon this Advantage of our Island, there is so much Stress to be laid towards the Prosperity of this Design, that if we should search through all the World for a perpetual Habitation, wherein the universal Philosophy might settle itself, there can none be found,
