Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/218

 These are some of the most advantageous Proposals they have scattered and encouraged in all Places, where their Interest prevails. In these they have recommended to many distinct and separate Trials, those Designs, which some private Men had begun, but could not accomplish, by reason of their Charge; or those which they themselves have devis'd, and conceived capable of Success; or even those of which Men have hitherto seem'd to despair. Of these, some are already brought to a hopeful Issue; some are put in Use, and thrive by the Practice of the Publick; and some are discover'd to be feasible, which were only before thought imaginary, and fantastical. This is one of the greatest Powers of the true and unwearied Experimenter, that he often rescues Things from the Jaws of those dreadful Monsters, Improbability, and Impossibility. These indeed arc two frightful Words to weaker Minds, but by diligent and wise Men, they are generally found to be only the Excuses of Idleness and Ignorance. For the most part, they 1ie not in the Things themselves, but in Men's false Opinions concerning them; they are rais'd by Opinions, but are soon abolish'd by Works. Many Things, that were at first improbable to the Minds of Men, are not so to their Eyes; many that seemed impracticable to their Thoughts, are quite otherwise to their Hands: many that are too difficult for their naked Hands, may be soon performed by the same Hands, if they are strengthen'd by Instruments, and guided by Method: many that are unmanageable by a few Hands, and a few Instruments, are easy to the joint Force of a Multitude: many that fail in one Age, may succeed by the renew'd Endeavours of another. It is not therefore the Conceit or Fancy of Men alone, that is of Rh