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XXIV 



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R E F A C E. 



our mechanics many are expert and ingenious, the Society hope to 

 be favoured with any new inventions and difcoveries they fliall make; 

 and as many of our young men, who have turned their thoughts to 

 philofophical fubjciSls, have difcovercd fuch a degree of judgmcut and 

 genius, as will enable them to carry their refearches far into naturej 

 their fentimcnts on fuch fubjefts, as they fliall be pleafed to commu* 

 nicate to us. fhall be received with thankfulncfs. For bcfides the 

 other advantages that may redound from an inflitution of this fort, 

 it may have a tendency to infpire our youth with a love of know* 

 ledge, to draw them gently from fcencs of di0ipation, and to ani- 

 mate them with a laudable defire of diftinguifliing themfelvcs by im^ 

 provements in arts and fciences, and by ufcful difcoveries that may 

 do honour to thcmfelves, and promote the intcrefl: of their country. 



Every Ipecimen of what is curious or valuable in forming a cabi- 

 net, or colleftion of foffil, vegetable or animal fubftances, that may 

 enlarge the bounds of natural hiftory in general, and of this part of 

 the world in particular, will be efteemcd agreeable prcfents, and 

 grateful acknowledgments will be made to the refpcftive donor&i. 



The Society propofe, as foon as their ftock will enable them, to 

 reward with fuitable premiums every pcrfou who {hall make any va^ 

 luablc Improvement, invention or difcovery, in any of the fubjcfls 

 before mentioned. They will always be ready to incorporate as 



members, thofe who deferve m'cU of their country . In (hort, 



the chief merit the Society mean to claim to thcmfelves is only 

 that of encouraging and diredling enquiries and experiments, of re- 

 ceiving, collc^ling and digefting difcoveries, inventions and improve- 

 ments, of communicating them to the public, and diilinguifhing the 

 authors; and of thus uniting the labours of many, to attain one end, 

 namely, the advancement of ufeful knowledge and improvement of 

 our country. 



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