VI 
PREFACE. 
them, have faved from oblivion many very valu¬ 
able difcoveries, or improvements in arts, and 
much ufeful information in the various branches 
of fcience. Thefe their modeft authors might 
have been tempted to fupprcfs, but for the re- 
fpedable fandion of focieties of men of the firft 
eminence and learning in their refpedive coun¬ 
tries, and the eafy mode of publilhing, which 
their volumes of Tranfadions afford. 
Though, in France, Societies for thefe pur- 
pofes have been inftituted in feveral of the pro¬ 
vinces, in England, they have almoft been con¬ 
fined to the Capital 3 and however great have 
been the advantages refulting from the refearches 
of the learned bodies, who are incorporated in 
London, it feems probable, that the great end 
of their inftitutions, the promotion of arts and 
fciences, may be more widely extended by the 
forming of Societies, with fimilar views, in the 
principal towns in this kingdom. 
Men, however great their learning, often be¬ 
come indolent, and unambitious to improve in 
knowledge, for want of affociating with others 
of fimilar talents and acquirements: Having 
few opportunities of communicating their ideas, 
they are not very folicitous to colled: or arrange 
thofe they have acquired, and are ft ill lefs 
anxious about the further cultivation of their 
minds.—But fcience, like fire, is put in motion 
bv collifton.—Where a number of fuch men 
have 
