Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/89

Rh thing else but an obstinate Addition to the Forms of some private Life, and not regarding general Things enough. This Freedom therefore, which they use, in Embracing all Assistance, is most advantageous to them; which is the more remarkable, in that they diligently search out and join to them, all extraordinary Men, though but of ordinary Trades. And that they are likely to continue this comprehensive Temper hereafter, I will shew by one instance; and it is the Recommendation which the King himself was pleased to make, of the judicious Author of the Observations on the Bills of Mortality: In whose Election, it was so far from being a Prejudice, that he was a Shop-keeper of London; that his Majesty gave this particular Charge to his Society, that if they found any more such Tradesmen, they should be sure to admit them all, without any more ado. From hence it may be concluded, what is their Inclination towards the manual Arts; by the careful Regard which their Founder and Patron, has engag'd them to have for all Sorts of Mechanick Artists.

But, though the Society entertains very many Men of particular Professions, yet the far greater Number are Gentlemen, free and unconfin'd. By the Help of this there was hopeful Provision made against two Corruptions of Learning, which have been long complain'd of, but never remov'd: The one, that Knowledge still degenerates to consult present Profit too soon; the other, that Philosophers have been always Masters and Scholars; some imposing, and all the other submitting; and not as equal Observers without Dependence.

The first of these may be call'd, the marrying of Arts too soon; and putting them to Generation before they come to be of Age; and has been the Cause of Rh