Commendation, all the excellent Designs, which are begun by the King, who has not only styl'd himself their Founder, but acted as a particular Member of their Company.
To this I will also add, that in this Time, they have pass'd through the first Difficulties of their Charter and Model; and have overcome all Oppositions, which are wont to arise, against the Beginnings of great Things. This certainly alone were enough to free them from all Imputation of Idleness, that they have fram'd such an Assembly in six Years, which was never yet brought about in six thousand. Besides this the World is to consider, that if any shall think, the whole Compass of their Work might have come to a sudden Issue; they seem neither to understand the Intentions of the Royal Society, nor the Extent of their Task. It was never their Aim, to make a violent Dispatch. They know, that Precipitancy in such Matters was the Fault of the Antients: And they have no Mind, to fall into the same Error, which they indeavour to correct. They began at first on so large a Bottom, that it is impossible, the whole Frame should be suddenly compleated. 'Tis true, they that have nothing else to do, but to express, and adorn Conclusions of Knowledge already made, may bring their Arts to an End, as soon as they please: But they who follow the slow and intricate Method of Nature, cannot have the Seasons of their Productions, so much in their own Power, If we would always exact from them daily or weekly Harvests; we should wholly cut off the Occasions of very many excellent Inventions, whose Subjects are remote, and come but seldom under their Consideration. If we would require them, immediately to reduce all their Labours, to publick and conspicu-
