The History of the Royal Society of London/Chapter 4
AN
ADVERTISEMENT
TO THE
READER.
THE Reader is entreated to take Notice, that much of this Discourse was written and printed above two Years before the rest: For this Cause, in the first and second Books, he may chance to find some Expressions, that by reason of the difference of Time may seem not well to agree with the last: But those having pass'd the Press so long ago, were out of my Power of changing them; and therefore I will refer it to his Kindness to do it for me.
I must also acquaint him, that in the Title of my Book I have taken a Liberty, which may be liable to Exception: I have called it a History of the Royal Society; whereas the first Part wholly treats of the State of the Ancient Philosophy; and the third chiefly contains a Defence and Recommendation of experimental Knowledge in general: So that it is only the second Book that peculiarly describes their Undertaking. But for my Excuse I may alledge the Example of many of the Ancients, who have often from the principal Part of their Works given Title to all the rest: In their Imitation, though this Book does treat of many Subjects that are not Historical, yet I have presum'd to name the whole a History, because that was the main End of my Design.
The Style perhaps in which it is written, is larger and more contentious than becomes that Purity and Shortness which are the chief Beauties of historical Writings: But the Blame of this ought not so much to be, laid upon me, as upon the Detractors of so noble an Institution: For their Objections and Cavils against it, did make it necessary for me to write of it, not altogether in the way of a plain History, but sometimes of an Apology.