Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/98

 Owner: But the Royal Mines, in whose Ground soever they are discovered, are no Man's Propriety, but still fall to the Crown.

These therefore are the Qualities which they have principally required in those whom they admitted; still reserving to themselves a Power of increasing, or keeping to their Number, as they saw Occasion. By this means, they have given Assurance of an eternal Quietness and Moderation, in their experimental Progress; because they allow themselves to differ in the weightiest Matter, even in the Way of Salvation itself. By this they have taken Care, that nothing shall be so remote as to escape their Reach; because some of their Members are still scattered abroad, in most of the habitable Parts of the Earth. By this they have provided, that no profitable Thing shall seem too mean for their Consideration, seeing they have some amongst them, whose Life is employed about little Things, as well as great. By this they have broken down the Partition-wall, and made a fair Entrance, for all Conditions of Men to engage in these Studies: which were heretofore affrighted from them, by a groundless Apprehension of their Chargeableness and Difficulty. Thus they have formed that Society, which intends a Philosophy, for the Use of Cities, and not for the Retirements of Schools, to resemble the Cities themselves; which are compounded of all Sorts of Men, of the Gown, of the Sword, of the Shop, of the Field, of the Court, of the Sea; all mutually assisting each other.

Let us next consider what Course of Inquiry they take, to make all their Labours unite for the Service of Mankind: And here I shall insist on their Expence, their Instruments, their Matter, and their Method. I