The Prerract. 
of our Nation to accomplifh, feeing one of the wifeft of our Statefmen,the 
Lord Verulam, firft propounded it. 
But to return to my Subjedt, from a di ioreffion, which, Ibopeyny Reader 
will pardon me, feeing the Example is fo rare that Ican make ro more uch 
digreffions. If thefe my firft Labours fhall be any wayes ufefulto. ingui- 
ring men, I muft attribute the incouiragement and promotion of them to a ue- 
ty Reverend and Learned Perfon,of whore this ought in juflice to be fuid, 
That there is {carce any one Invention, which this Nation has pro- 
duc’d inour Age, but it has fome way or.other been fet forward by 
his afliftance. My Reader, believe pill quickly ghef, that itis Dr. Wik. 
kins that Imean.He isindeed aman born for the good of mankind,and for 
the honour of hisCowutry.. Jn the fweetnels of whofe behaviour,in the 
calmnefs of his mind, in the unbounded goodnefs of bis heart, we have 
an evident Inflance, what the true and the primitive unpaflionate Religi« 
on was, before it was fowred by particular Faktions. In a word, his Zeal 
Dias: bets foconftant and effectual ‘in advancing’ all good and profitable 
Arts,that as one of the Antient Romans faid of Scipio, That he thanked 
God that he was.a Roman ; becaufe whereever Stipio had: been born, 
therehad been the fear of the ‘Empire of tht world: So may. I thank 
God, that Dr, Wilkins was an Englifhman,. for whereéveribe had lived, 
there had been the chief Seat of generous: Knowledge and true Philofo- 
phy. Zo the truth of thiathere are fo many worthy men living that will fub- 
feribe, that T am confident, what Ihave bere faid, will not be’ liok'd upon, 
by any pone ness ah : a a Seyi das only ds: 4 real belt 
tony. | 
‘By the Adie ti Boceliacaed I fof bicdok this Ensctoilige 
pill fee to it with mich ReluGancy becaujed ws to follow the footfieps of 
“fo erninent a Perfon'as Dr. Wren ,ivho was the fir/t that attempted aiy 
thing of this nature ; whofe original draughts do now makeantof. the Qrna- 
ments of that great Collettion of Rarities in theKingsClofet. Zhis Ho- 
nor, which his firft beginnings of this kind have receiv d, to be admitted in- 
to the moft famous place of the world,did not fo much incourage, as the tia 
-zard of coming after Dr. Wren did aftright me ;. for of him I maf affirm, 
that, fince the time of Archimedes, there fcarce ever met in oe man, info 
great 
