Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/425

 Purpose the striking out of new Mechanics: Of these I will also assert the Innocence, in respect of their Predecessors. In few Words, the Old Arts are so far from being endanger'd by the New, that they themselves will receive a proportionable Increase, as the New shall arise. The Warmth and Vigour which attends new Discoveries, is seldom wont to confine itself to its own Sphere, but is commonly extended farther to the Ornament of its Neighbours. This is apparent in the Degree by which all Nations use to attain to a higher Civility. The ordinary Method wherein this happens, is the Introduction of some one or two New Arts: For they appearing with great Activity in the Beginning, do not only establish themselves; but also by stirring and inflaming Mens Minds, by disgracing the laziness of other Artisans, and provoking them to an Emulation, they are wont to bring an universal Light and Beauty on those Inventions into whose Company they are brought.

It is said of the Moral Virtues, that they have such a mutual Dependance, that no Man can attain to Perfection in any one of them, without some Degree of the other. And this also is certain in the Mechanic Arts: The Connexion between them is so close, that they generally use to increase in the same Measure. There is no Time, nor great City, which perfectly excels in any one of them, but it is thereby made more capable of admitting the rest, or of advancing them higher if they were admitted before.

It is true indeed, the increase of Tradesman is an Injury to others, that are bred up in particular Trades, where there is no greater Employment than they can master: But there can never be an overcharge of Rh