Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/238

 When my Reader shall behold this large of Relations; perhaps he will think, that too many of them seem to be incredible Stories, and that if the Royal Society shall much busy themselves, about such wonderful and uncertain Events, they will fall into that Mistake, of which I have already accus'd some of the Antients, of framing Romances, instead of solid Histories of Nature. But here, though I shall first confirm what I said before, that it is an unprofitable, and unsound Way of Natural Philosophy, to regard nothing else, but the prodigious and extraordinary Causes and Effects; yet I will also add, that it is not an unfit Employment for the most judicious Experimenter, to examine and record the most unusual and monstrous Forces, and Motions of Matter. It is certain that many things, which now seem miraculous, would not be so, if once we come to be fully acquainted with their Compositions and Operations. And it is also as true, that there are many Qualities, and Figures, and Powers of things, that break the common Laws, and transgress the standing Rules of Nature. It is not therefore an Extravagance, to observe such Productions, as are indeed admirable in themselves, if at the same time we do not strive to make those appear to be admirable, that are groundless and false. In this there is a near Resemblance between Natural and Civil History. In the Civil, that way of Romance is to be exploded, which heightens all the Characters and Actions of Men, beyond all Shadow of Probability; yet this does not hinder, but the great and eminent Virtues of extraordinary Men of all Ages, may be related and propos'd to our Example. The same is to be affirm'd of Natural History. To make that only to consist of strange and delightful Tales, is to render it Rh