Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/82

 perhaps this Labour is not so proper for Experimenters to undergo; for it would not only devour too much of their Time, but it would go near to make them a little more magisterial in Philosophy, than became them; by being long accustomed to command the Opinions, and direct the Manners, of their Scholars. And as to the other Particular, the large Estate which he required to the Maintenance of his College; it is evident, that it is so difficult a Thing to draw Men in to be willing to divert an antient Revenue, which has long run in another Stream, or to contribute out of their own Furies, to the supporting of any new Design, while it shews nothing but Promises, and Hopes; that, in such cases, it were (it may be) more adviseable to begin upon a small Stock, and so to rise by degrees, than to profess great Things at first, and to exact too much Benevolence all in one Lump together. However, it was not the excellent Author's Fault, that he thought better of the Age than it did deserve. His Purpose in it was like himself, full of Honour and Goodness: Most of the other Particulars of his Draught the Royal Society is now putting in Practice.

I come now to the second Period of my Narration; wherein I promised to give an Account of what they did, till they were publickly owned, encouraged, and confirmed by Royal Favour. And I trust, that I shall here produce many Things, which will prove their Attempts to be worthy of all Men's Incouragement: though what was performed in this Interval may be rather styl'd the Temporary Scaffold about the Building, than the Frame itself. But in my Entrance upon this Part, being come to the Top of the Hill, I begin to tremble, and to apprehend the Greatness of Rh