Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/146

 great Hindrance in the Progress of the true Philosophy, as it is wont to be in the Rise of Men's private Fortunes. Whoever aims not at the greatest Things, will seldom proceed much farther than the least. Whoever will make a right and a fortunate Courtship to Nature, he cannot enterprise or attempt too much: for She (as it is said of other Mistresses) is also a Mistress, that soonest yields to the forward and the bold.

I have hitherto described the first Elements, on which the Royal Society arose, and supported its Beginnings: I have trac'd its Progress from the first private Endeavours of some of its Members, till it became united into a regular Constitution; and from thence I have related their first Conceptions and Practices, towards the settling of an universal, constant, and impartial Survey of the whole Creation. There now remains to be added in this third Part of my Narration, an Account of the Incouragements they have received from abroad, and at home, and a particular Enumeration of the principal Subjects, about which they have been employed, since they obtain'd the Royal Confirmation.

I will first begin with the Esteem, which all the civil World abroad has conceived of their Enterprise: And I mention this with the more Willingness, because I believe that our Nation ought justly to be reprov'd, for their Excess of natural Bashfulness, and for their want of Care, to have their most excellent Things represented to Strangers with the best Advantage. This silent and reserv'd Humour has no doubt been very prejudicial to us, in the Judgment that our Neighbours have often made, not only concerning the