of Mathematical Learning, 



People may think that the Sciences do not be- 

 gin to exert themfelves, either becaufe they cou'd 

 be but imperfect among the Ancients ; or becaufe 

 we have almoft loft the Footfteps of them du- 

 ring the gloomy Darknefs of Barbarity ; or be- 

 caufe a better method hath been taken about 

 100 Years ago. Was the Progrefs Hiftorically 

 examin'd, they have already made in fo fhort a 

 time, notwithftanding the ftrong, but falfe Pre- 

 judices they had long to encounter with, even 

 fometimes the foreign Obftacles they have met 

 with from Authority and Power ; the want of 

 Zeal for Sciences fb remote from common ufe, 

 thofe few who apply'd themfelves to this Work* 

 and the weak Motives which engag'd them in it ; 

 a Man would wonder at the Greatnefs and 

 Rapidity of the Progrefs of the Sciences, 

 and even we might obferve fbme new ones to 

 ftart out of nothing, and perhaps be tempted 

 to have too great hopes of future Improve- 

 ments. 



The greater reafon we have of future Succefs, 

 the greater we have to look upon the Sciences 

 as in their Cradles, at leaft Natural Phiiofbphy. 

 And therefore the Academy is only now employ'd 

 to make an ample Provifion of Obfervations, and 

 Facts well attefted, which may one day be 

 the foundation of a Syftem. For before the 

 Syftematical Natural Phiiofbphy can raife fb- 

 lid Edifices ; Experimental Natural Philofophy 

 muft be in a condition to fapply it with o- 00 d 

 Materials 



None 



