xcvi TO THE READER 



refin'd Universal Knowledge, as well as Ingenuity : But I should 

 never end, were I to pursue this fruitful Topic. I have but 

 one word more to add, to conciliate the Favour and Esteem 

 of our own Universities, to an Assembly of Gentlemen, who 

 from them acknowledge to have derived all their Abilities for 

 these laudable Undertakings ; and what above all is most 

 shining in them of most (Christian, Moral, and otherwise con- 

 spicuous, as from the Source and Fountain, to which on all 

 occasions, they are not only ready to pay the Tribute and 

 Obsequiousness of humble Servants, but of Sons, and dutiful 

 Alumni. There is nothing verily which they more desire, 

 than a fair and mutual (Correspondence between so near Re- 

 lations, and that they may be perpetually Flourishing and 

 Fruitful in bringing forth (as still they do) supplies to Church 

 and State in all its great Capacities : * Finally, that they 

 would regard the T{oyal Society as a (Colony of their own 

 planting, and augure it Success. And if in these Labours, and 

 arduous Attempts, several Inventions of present use and service 

 to Mankind (either detecting Errors, illustrating and asserting 

 Truths, or propagating Knowledge in natural things, and the 

 visible Works of God) have been discover'd, as they envy not 

 the communicating them to the World ; so should they be 

 wanting to the Society, and to the Honour of divers Learned 

 and Ingenious Persons, (who are the Soul and 'Body of it) not 

 to vindicate them from the ambitious Plagiary, the Insults 

 of Scoffers and injurious Men : Certainly, Persons of right 

 and subacted Principles, that were Lowers of their 



1 Since this Epistle was first written and publish' d the University of Oxford have 

 instituted, and erected a Society for the promoting of Natural and Experimental 

 Knowledge, in consort with the R. Society, -with which they keep a mutual Corres- 

 pondence : This 1 mention, for that some Malevolents had so far endeavour' d to 

 Possess divers Members of the University ; as if the Society design' d nothing less 

 than the undermining of that, and other illustrious Academies, and which indeed 

 so far prevail' d, as to breed a real Jealousy for some considerable time : But as this 

 was never in the Thoughts of the Society (which had ever the Universities in greatest 

 Veneration) so the Innocency and "Usefulness of its Institution has at length disabus'd 

 them, vindicated their Proceedings, dissipated all Surmises, and, in fine, produced 

 an ingenious, friendly and candid Vnion and Correspondence between them. 



