Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/413

 the other. And in this it will be found, as in many other Things, that if Men only intend a little Curiosity and Delight, they will reap not much more by their Pains: But if they regard real Use, not only the Profit, but a greater Delight will also follow thereon.

And for our Encouragement, whatever Attempts of this Nature have succeeded, they have redounded to the great Advantage of the Undertakers. The Orange of China being of late brought into Portugal, has drawn a great Revenue every Year from London alone. The Vine of the Rhine taking Root in the Canaries, has produc'd a far more delicious Juice, and has made the Rocks and the Sun-burnt Ashes of those Islands, one of the richest Spots of Ground the World. And I will also instance in that which is now in a good Forwardness; Virginia has already given Silk for the Cloathing of our King, and it may happen hereafter to give Cloaths to a great part of Europe and a vast Treasure to our Kings, if the Silk-worms shall thrive there (of which there seems to be no doubt) the Profit will be inexpressible. We may guess at it, by considering what Numbers of Caravans, and how many great Cities in Persia are maintain'd by that Manufacture alone, and what mighty Customs it yearly brings into the Sophi's Revenue.

if both these Helps should chance to fail; if nothing new should ever come into our Hands; and if there could be no farther Alteration made by Transplanting; yet we may still take Comfort, and rely on the old Matter itself, on which all our present Arts have been devised. This certainly will take away all distrust in this Business: For it may be observ'd, that the greatest part of all our New Inventions have not Rh