t 143 ] 



not had full experience of the truth of. Nothing 

 can be more inimical to the laudable intentions of 

 the focieties eftablifhed for the promotion of ufeful 

 knowledge, nor can any thing reflect more difcredit 

 on their earnefl endeavours to promulgate the fame, 

 for the general information and benefit of mankind, 

 than promifcuoufly blending fable with truth, and 

 giving chimeras for difcoveries, which never ex- 

 ifted but in the imagination of the writer. The 

 elder noftrum above-mentioned has, I believe, dis- 

 graced almoft every repofitory of papers on thefe 

 fubjects, which hath been publifhed for many years. 



To this I would add another wifh, which is, that 

 no writer in future would communicate any thing to 

 the fociety but original papers, without quoting the 

 author from whom fuch writing was copied or ex- 

 tracted. This would enable the Committee to judge 

 of the propriety of publifhing the fame, and often 

 prevent the very uncandid impofition, which is too 

 often pradtifed, of pafling extracts for originals, 

 and abfurdly and difhoneftly caufing the fame thing 

 to be publifhed many times, much to the difap- 

 pointment and lofs of the purchafer. 



One offence of this kind I can point out in the 

 ad volume of your letters and papers, from a gen- 

 tleman 



