Which they themselves dislik'd in the publick: To have been eternally musing on Civil Business, and the Distresses of their Country, was too melancholy a Reflexion: It was Nature alone, which could pleasantly entertain them in that Estate. The Contemplation of that, draws our Minds off from past, or present Misfortunes, and makes them Conquerors over Things, in the greatest publick Unhappiness: while the Consideration of Men, and human Affairs, may affect us with a thousand various Disquiets; that never separates us into moral Factions; that gives us room to differ, without Animosity; and permits us to raise contrary Imaginations upon it, without any Danger of a Civil War.
Their Meetings were as frequent, as their Affairs permitted: their Proceedings rather by Action, than Discourse; chiefly attending some particular Trials, in Chymistry or Mechanicks: they had no Rules nor Method fix'd: their Intention was more to communicate to each other their Discoveries, which they could make in so narrow a Compass, than an united, constant, or regular Inquisition. And methinks, their Constitution did bear some resemblance to the Academy lately begun at Paris: where they have at last turn'd their Thoughts from Words to experimental Philosophy, and perhaps in Imitation of the Royal Society. Their Manner likewise, is to assemble in a private House, to reason freely upon the Works of Nature, to pass Conjectures, and propose Problems, on any Mathematical, or Philosophical Matter, which comes in their Way. And this is an Omen, on which I will build some Hope, that as they agree with us in what was done at Oxford, so they will go on farther, and come by the same Degrees, to erect
