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 sub- 

 ject, 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 accustomed meetings, or to the persons through whose 

 hands they received them, are to be considered in no other light 

 than as a matter of civility, in return for the respect shown to 

 the Society by those communications. The like also is to be 

 said with regard to the several projects, inventions, and curiosi- 

 ties 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 disho- 

 nour of the Society. 



