Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/135

 utterly desperate in its Cure; and I think it may be plac'd amongst those general Mischiefs; such as the Dissention of Christian Princes, the Want of Practice in Religion, and the like; which have been so long spoken against, that Men are become insensible about them; every one shifting off the Fault from himself to others; and so they are only made bare Common Places of Complaint. It will suffice my present Purpose, to point out, what has been done by the Royal Society, towards the correcting of its Excesses in natural Philosophy; to which it is, of all others, a most profest Enemy.

They have therefore been more rigorous in putting in Execution the only Remedy, that can be found for this Extravagance; and that has been a constant Resolution, to reject all the Amplifications, Digressions, and Swellings of Style; to return back to the primitive Purity and Shortness, when Men deliver'd so many Things, almost in an equal Number of Words. They have exacted from all their Members, a close, naked, natural way of Speaking; positive Expressions, clear Senses; a native Easiness; bringing all Things as near the mathematical Plainness as they can; and preferring the Language of Artizans, Countrymen, and Merchants, before that of Wits, or Scholars.

And here, there is one Thing not to be pass'd by; which will render this establish'd Custom of the Society well nigh everlasting; and that is the general Constitution of the Minds of the English. I have already often insisted on some of the Prerogatives of England; whereby it may justly lay Claim, to be the Head of a philosophical League, above all other Countries in Europe: I have urg'd its Situation, its present Genius, and the Disposition of its Merchants; and Rh