TO THE READER Ixxxvii 



divers New and useful Experiments, justly attributable to 

 several Members of the Royal Society. 1 



So far has that Assembly been from affecting Glory, that 

 they seem rather to have declin'd their due ; not as asham'd 

 of so numerous and fair an Off-spring ; but as abundantly satis- 

 fied, that after all the hard measure, and virulent Reproaches 

 they had sustain'd, for endeavouring by united Attempts, 

 and at their own Charges, to improve Real Philosophy ; they 

 had from time to time, cultivated that Province in so many 

 useful and profitable Instances, as are already published to the 

 World, and will be easily asserted to their Authors before all 

 equitable Judges. 



This being the sole inducement of publishing this Apology; 

 it may not perhaps seem unseasonable to disabuse some 

 (otherwise) well-meaning People, who led away and perverted 

 by the O^oise of a few Ignorant and Comical 'Buffoons, (whose 

 Malevolence, or Impertinencies intitle them to nothing that is 

 truly Great and Venerable] are with an Insolence suitable to 

 their Understanding, still crying out, and asking, What have 

 the Society done ? 



Now, as nothing less than Miracles (and unless God should 

 every day repeat them at the Call of these Extravagants} will 

 convince some Persons, of the most 1(alional and 'Divine 



1 Consult Hist. Roy. Soc. and their Registers. 



The Laws of Motion, and the Geometrical streightning of Curve Lines were 

 first found out by Sir Christopher Wren and Mr. Thomas Neile. 



The equated isocrone Motion of the weight of a Circular Pendulum in a Para- 

 boloid, for the regulating of Clocks; and the improving Pocket-Watches by Springs 

 applied to the Ballance, were first invented and demonstrated to this Society by 

 Dr. Hooke ; together with all those New and useful Instruments, Contrivances and 

 Experiments, Mathematical and Physical, publish'd in his Posthumous Works by 

 the most accomplish'd Mr. Waller, Secretary to the R. Society. And since those 

 the incomparably learned Sir Isaac Newton, now President of the Royal Society ; 

 Mr. Haly, the Worthy Professor of Geometry in the University of Oxford ; Dr. 

 Grew, and several more, whose Works and useful Inventions sufficiently celebrate 

 their Merits : I did mention the Barometer, to which might be added the prodi- 

 gious effects of the Speculum Ustorium, surpassing what the French pretend to, 

 as confidently, or rather audaciously, they do, and to other admirable Inventions, 

 injuriously arrogated by Strangers, tho' due of right to Englishmen, and Members 

 of this Society ; but 'tis not the business of this Preface to enumerate all, tho' 

 'twas necessary to touch on some Instances. 



