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To the Right Honourable

Together with the ret of the COUNCIL and FELLOWS of the ROYAL SOCIETY.

My Lord,

NOW at length preent to your Lordhip thoe Papers I had drawn up concerning a Real Character, and a Philoophicall Language''; which by everall Orders of the Society have been required of Me. I have been the longer about it, partly becaue it required ome coniderable time to reduce the Collections I had by me to this purpoe, into a tolerable order; and partly becaue when this work was done in Writing, and the Impreion of it well nigh finihed, it hapned (amongt many other better things) to be burnt in the late dreadfull Fire; by which, all that was Printed (excepting only two Copies) and a great part of the unprinted Original was detroyed: The repairing of which, hath taken up the greatet part of my time ever ince. I mention this by way of Apology for that lackness and delay, I may eem to be guilty of in my obedience to your Orders.''

Rh