Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/96

 upon us infinite Stories and false Miracles, without any regard to Conscience or Truth.

To the second Objection I shall briefly answer; that if all the Authors, or Possessors of extraordinary Inventions, should conspire to conceal all that was in their Power from them; yet the Method which they take will quickly make abundant Reparation for that Defect. If they cannot come at Nature in its particular Streams, they will have it in the Fountain. If they could be shut out from the Closets of Physicians, or the Work-houses of Mechanicks; yet with the same, or with better Sorts of Instruments, on more Materials, by more Hands, with a more rational Light, they would not only restore again the old Arts, but find out perhaps many more of far greater Importance. But I need not lay much Stress upon that Hope; when there is no Question at all, but all, or the greatest part of such domestick Receipts and Curiosities, will soon flow into this publick Treasury. How few Secrets have there been, though ever so gainful, that have been long conceal'd from the whole World by their Authors? Were not all the least Arts of Life at first private? Were not Watches, or Locks, or Guns, or Printing, or lately the Bow-dye, devis'd by particular Men, but soon made common? If neither Chance, nor Friendship, nor Treachery of Servants, have brought such Things out; yet we see Ostentation alone to be every Day powerful enough to do it. This Desire of Glory, and to be counted Authors, prevails on all, even on many of the dark and reserv'd Chymists themselves; who are ever printing their greatest Mysteries, though indeed they seem to do it with so much Reluctancy, and with a Willingness to hide still; which makes their Style to resemble the Smoke, in which they Rh