(502)
might the better shew, what is to be expected from these new Undertakers; and what moved them to enter upon a way of Inquiry, different from that, on which the former have proceeded.
The Second, consists of the Narrative it self in which the Historian, out of the Registers and Journals of the Royal Society (which he hath been permitted to peruse) relateth the first Occasions of their Meetings, the Encouragement, and Patronage they have received; their Patent, their Statutes, the whole Order and Scheme of their Design, the Qualifications of their Members; the Largness of their Number; their weekly Assemblies; the manner of their Inquiry; their way of Registring; and their Universal Correspondency; together with a particular Enumeration of the principal Subjects, about which the have been employed since they were made a Royal Corporation, and this to silence that importunate demand, What they have done all this while? And here the Historian hopes, that all reasonable men will find satisfaction, when they shall consider, First, That besides that this Society hath past through the first difficulties of their Charter and Model, and overcome all oppositions, which use to arise against the beginnings of great things; their Aim, and the nature of their Design, and the Extent of their task do admit of no violent and hasty dispatch. Next, That, though their work hath not been exposed to open view, yet their Registers are stored with a good number of Particulars they have taken pains about; As,
- Queries and Directions, they have given abroad.
- Proposals and Recommendations, they have made.
- Relations, they have received.
- Experiments, they have tried.
- Observations, they have taken.
- Instruments, they have invented or advanced.
- Theories, that have been proposed.
- Discourses, they have written or published.
- Histories of Nature, and Arts, and Works, they have collected.
The Particulars upon which Heads are more numerous, and of greater moment and variety, than perhaps Detractors and Cavillers imagine or expect: they exceed indeed the number of 700; of which the Experiments and Observations both together amount to above 350; the Relations, to about 150; the Queries, Directions, Recommendations, and Proposals, to above 80, the Instruments, to about 60; the Histories of Nature and Art, to above 50; and the Theories and Discourses to as many.
To these he adds an Account of the Library and Repository, they have
