Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/21



HE Reader is entreated to take Notice, that much of this Discourse was written and printed above two Years before the rest: For this Cause, in the first and second Books, he may chance to find some Expressions, that by reason of the difference of Time may seem not well to agree with the last: But those having pass'd the Press so long ago, were out of my Power of changing them; and therefore I will refer it to his Kindness to do it for me.

I must also acquaint him, that in the Title of my Book I have taken a Liberty, which may be liable to Exception: I have called it a History of the Royal Society; whereas the first Part wholly treats of the State of the Ancient Philosophy; and the third chiefly contains a Defence and Recommendation of experimental Knowledge in general: So Rh