Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/100

 could not any way harm the Royal Society's Establishment; seeing its first Claims and Pretensions were so modest. And yet I shall presume to assure the World; that what they shall raise on these mean Foundations, will be more answerable to the Largeness of their Intentions, than to the Narrowness of their Beginnings. This I speak so boldly, not only because it is almost generally found true; that those Things, which have been small at first, have oftner grown greater, than those which have begun upon a wider Bottom, which have common stood at a Stay: But also in respect of the present prevailing Genius of the English Nation. It is most usually found, that every People has some one Study or other in their View, about which their Minds are most intent, and their Purses readier to open. This is sometimes a Profusion in Habit and Diet; sometimes religious Buildings; and sometimes the civil Ornaments of their Cities and Country. The first of these will shortly vanish from amongst us, by the irresistible Correction of the King's own Example; the next is of late Years very sensibly abated: and it is the last of the three towards which Men's Desires are most propense. To evidence this; I think it may be calculated, that since the King's return, there have been more Acts of Parliament, for the clearing and beautifying of Streets, for the repairing of Highways, for the cutting of Rivers, for the increase of Manufactures, for the setting on foot the Trade of Fishing, and many other such publick Works, to adorn the State, than in diverse Ages before. This general Temper being well weigh'd, it cannot be imagined, that the Nation will withdraw its Assistance from the Royal Society alone; which docs not intend to stop at some particular Benefit, but goes to the Root Rh