out to so fine a Thread, that it could be known but only to those who would throw away all their whole Lives upon it. It was made too subtile for the common and gross Conceptions of Men of Business. It had before in a measure been banish'd by the Philosophers themselves, out of the World, and shut up in the Shades of their Walks. And by this means, it was first look'd upon as most useless, and so fit soonest to be neglected. Whereas if at first, it had been made to converse more with the Senses, and to assist familiarly in all Occasions of human Life; it would, no doubt, have been thought needful to be preserv'd, in the most active and ignorant Time. It would have escap'd the Fury of the barbarous People, as well as the Arts of Ploughing, Gardening, Cookery, Making Iron and Steel, Fishing, Sailing, and many more such necessary Handicrafts have done.
And it is too late to lament this Error of the Antients, seeing it is not now to be repair'd. It is enough, that we gather from hence, that by bringing Philosophy down again to Men's Sight and Practice, from whence it was flown away so high, the Royal Society has put it into a Condition of standing out against the Invasions of Time, or even Barbarism itself; that by establishing it on a firmer Foundation than the airy Notions of Men alone, upon all the Works of Nature; by turning it into one of the Arts of Life, of which Men may see there is daily need; they have provided, that it cannot hereafter be extinguish'd, at the Loss of a Library, at the Overthrowing of a Language, or at the Death of some few Philosophers; but that Men must lose their Eyes and Hands, and must leave off desiring to make their Lives convenient or pleasant before they can be willing to destroy it.
