r vii ] 



of the fpeculative kind, which may in their 

 confequences lead to praftical improvements, 

 have not been neglefted ; — fuch will always 

 be efteemed valuable communications, ' Itho' 

 inferior to thofe that have already been fub- 

 mitted to the teft of experiment. 



In a work of this kind, to be explicit and 

 intelligible, are all the requifites with refpeft 

 to languages and therefore the thoughts of 

 our correfpondents are generally given in 

 their own words. 



The Society, however, think it neceflary 

 here to obferve, that although they have no 

 caufe to diftruft the knowledge or veracity of 

 any perfon who has favoured them with his 

 correfpondence, yet, for obvious reafons, they 

 do not mean as a body to vouch for the 

 truth of any relation, or to give authority 

 to any opinion contained in the following 

 papers, further than the notes exprefs, and to 

 recommend them as fubjecls of enquiry and 

 examination. 



To 



