be, the importance and singularity of the subjects, or the advan- 

 tageous manner of treating them ; without pretending to answer 

 for the certainty of the facts, or propriety of the reasonings, 

 contained in the several papers so published, which must still 

 rest on the credit or judgment of their respective authors. 



It is likewise necessary on this occasion to remark, that it is 

 an established rule of the Society, to which they will always 

 adhere, never to give their opinion, as a Body, upon any subject, 

 either of Nature or Art, that comes before them. And therefore 

 the thanks which are frequently proposed from the Chair, to be 

 given to the authors of such papers as are read at their accus- 

 tomed meetings, or to the persons through whose hands they 

 receive them, are to be considered in no other light than as a 

 matter of civility, in return for the respect shewn to the Society 

 by those communications. The like also is to be said with 

 regard to the several projects, inventions, and curiosities of 

 various kinds, which are often exhibited to the Society ; the 

 authors whereof, or those who exhibit them, frequently take 

 the liberty to report, and even to certify in the public news- 

 papers, that they have met with the highest applause and 

 approbation. And therefore it is hoped, that no regard will 

 hereafter be paid to such reports and public notices ; which in 

 some instances have been too lightly credited, to the dishonour 

 of the Society. lo? r- 



