Iv PREFACE. 



on \he vcrv limitcJ circuhnon of academical Tranf^clioiis, frorr tlieir pricf, tlicir number, 

 their Mtent, diilancc of publication, dlfterence of language, labour of perufal, and the efltii ts 

 of mental abridgment, it is alfo certain that, from one or other of thcfe caufes, even the 

 bed memoirs they contain mull continue unknown to a very large dafs of men of fcience. 

 Under the imjirelTion of thcfe truths, while no exertions will be fpared to obtain immediate 

 original information, Concerning any objecl prefented to the world in this collection, the aim 

 M originality muft. nevcrthclefs be fubordinate to the Icfs eafy but more cflbntial requifiics 

 of public utilirv and intcrelling refcarch. Whenever, in the progrefs of invedigation, dif- 

 £ov«vids thus buried from the knowledge of the world, fii.dl prcfent themfclves, the rational 

 plan of a public journal will require them to be brought forv/ard, thougli years may have 

 elapfed Cuce their firft publication. It would b'S eafy to exhibit a numerous catalogue of 

 errors retained in the works of authors of tlie fiill eminence, from the want of fuch general 

 coramunitation. 



After this (hort account of the materials, it might be expected ihat fomething (hould be 

 faid of the manner in which this Journal is to be conducted. On this occafion it would 

 not be difficult to point out imperfections in the works of others, and promife to avoid them ; 

 or to enumerate the various rcquifites which ought to characterife the journalift of ability 

 and integrity, and promife to exert them. Such fpecific engagements may have their value, 

 and arc probably entered into with great fincerity. But it appears more natural and eafy to 

 le»ve every individual of principle and underftanding to imagine what ought to be done. 

 4» the events prefent themfclves, the proper mode of conduft will itfelf (tand forward 

 and leave no caufe for hcfitation. 



Yet wlwle the Author himfelf avows the decided purpofe of exhibiting his fources of 

 communication in the molt unreferved manner, it is no Icfs proper that he lliould pay 

 e\ery attention to the riglits of others. He will never take upon him to decide for another, 

 how far he fhall or lliall not come forward as the author of any communications he may 

 receive, and (till lefs will he date to infringe that firft and molt facred properly which men 

 hold in the produfts of their own underftanding. It is not, in his opinion, for any man or 

 fet of men to decide what are the cafes of moral obligation in an inventor to communicate 

 his difcoveries, or his private arrangements in bufinefs. Philofophers, manufafturers, 

 and others, may therefore reft affiired, that he will publilli no communications he may ac- 

 <iuite either in converfation or otherwife, nor mention the name of any fndividual in his 

 writings -, unlefs the object be already before the Public, or unlefs he (hall receive pcr- 

 miflion dire£lly, or molt clearly implied, to that elTeit. But in every cafe of anonymous 

 communication he will be careful, according to the nature of the object, to mention the 

 -degree of credit he himfelf is difpofed to attacli to the feveral fafls. 



Such papers as have no name or fignaturc are written by himfelf. This will in general 

 appear alfo from tlic manner, chiefly with refpect to the ufe of the firft perfon fingular. 

 The firft perfon plural will probably be ufed in fuch occafional fentences as refer to the 

 Author and the Reader in the joint confideration of any fubjfct ; but never in the manner 

 adopted by anonymous writers, to denote tJic concealed individual. 



A JOUR- 



