The history of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge / [Thomas Sprat].

  • Thomas Sprat
Date:
[1722]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge / [Thomas Sprat]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The HISTORTof Benefit of human Life, by the Advancement of Real Knowledge. Perhaps this Task, which I have propos’d to my felf, will incur the Cenfure of many judicious Men, who may think it an over-hafty, and prelumptuous Attempt; and may objed to me, that the Hiftory of an Affembly which begins with fo great Expec¬ tations, ought not to have been made publick fo foon; till we could have produced very many confiderable Experiments, which they had try’d, and fo have given undeniable R roofs of the Ufe- fulnefs of their Undertaking. In anfwer to this, I can plead for my felf, that what I am here to fay, will be far from preventing the Labours of others in adorning fo worthy a Sub- jed; and is premis'd upon no other account, than as the nobleft Buildings are firft wont to be repre- fentcd in a few Shadows, or fmall Models; which are not intended to be equal to the chief Stru- dure it felf, but only to fhew in little, by what Materials, with what Charge, and by how many Hands, that is afterwards to be rais’d. Although, therefore, I come to the Performance of this Work, with much lefs ‘Deliberation, and Ability, than the Weightinefs of it requires j yet, I truft, that the Greatnefs of thz'DeJign it felf, on which I am to fpeak, and the Zeal which I have for the Honour of our Nation, which have been the chief Reafons that have mov’d me to this Confidence of Writing, will ferve to make fomething for my Excufe. For what greater matter can any Man deftre, about which to employ his Thoughts, than the Beginnings of an 11- liiftrious Company, which has already laid fuch ex¬ cellent Foundations of fo much Good to Mankind? Or,
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