it is but just, that future Times should hear the Names of its first Promoters: That they may be able to render particular Thanks to them, who first conceived it in their Minds, and practis'd some little Draught of it long ago. And besides, I never yet saw an Historian that was clear from all Affections; that, it may be, were not so much to be called Integrity, as a stoical Insensibility: Nor can I, more than others, resist my Inclinations, which strongly force me to mention that, which will be for the Honour of that Place, where I received a great Part of my Education. It was therefore some Space after the End of the Civil Wars at Oxford, in Doctor Wilkins his Lodgings, in Wadham College, which was then the Place of Resort for virtuous and learned Men, that the first Meetings were made, which laid the Foundation of all this that followed. The University had at that time many Members of its own, who had begun a free way of Reasoning; and was also frequented by some Gentlemen of Philosophical Minds, whom the Misfortunes of the Kingdom, and the Security and Ease of a Retirement amongst Gown-men, had drawn thither.
Sect. II. The Meetings at OxfordTheir first Purpose was no more than only the Satisfaction of breathing a freer Air, and of conversing in Quiet one with another, without being ingag'd in the Passions and Madness of that dismal Age. And from the Institution of that Assembly, it had been enough if no other Advantage had come but this: That by this means there was a Race of young Men provided against the next Age, whose Minds receiving from them their first Impressions of sober and generous Knowledge, were invincibly arm'd against all the Inchantments of Enthusiasm. But what is more, I may