1472-] 
An wtroauSiorji Effzy to the JoSirine 0/ Sounds, 
contaimng fome propofals for the improvement of 
Acoufticka ; As it was prefented to the Dublin 
Society Nov. 12. 1^85^. by the Right Reverend 
Father iri God NarcilTus LordBiJ/jop of ferns and 
Leighlin. 
BEingto treat of the Dodlrine of Sounds , I hold it 
convenient to premife Something in the general 
concerning this Theory ; which may lerve at once to in- 
gageyour attention, and excufe my pains, when Ifhall 
have recommended them, as beftow'd on a f'ubjed: not 
altogether ufelefs and unfruitful. 
And for this purpofelihall omit to fpeak any thing of 
the Excellency of the matter in hand ; though it might be 
celebrated by Arguments drawn from feveral Topicks, 
^nd particularly from this, that new difcoveries and im- 
provements may be made, both as to the Generation^ Pro^ 
pa^ation^nd Inception of Sounds into the Senfe i which 
in a peculiar manner agrees to this, above the objed: of a- 
ny other Senfewhatfoever. Ifhall, 1 fay, omit thefe 
things, and apply my felf wholy to the vjefulnefs of the 
Theory, that we arc now falling upon; which I think 
cannot better be difcovered, than by making acompa- 
rifon 'twixt theSenfesof Seeing gLnA Hearing as to their 
improvements. I mean^by fliewing,that this later of Hear- 
ing^ is capable of all thofe improvements which the Senfe 
of Seeing has received from Art 3 befides many more ad- 
vantages, that the Ear ma^y enjoy, by the help of our Do- 
drine, above the £y^; ail which moreover will be of as 
great benefit to mankind, as any thmg that have 
yet difcovered, if not of greateti which, wiih iome o- 
ther preeminencies that it has upon another Score, will 
happily render Acoujiicks the nobler Science of the two. 
In order to the making good what I but now promifed 
of the Comparilonof thefe two Faculties of JmVz^and 
Hear-* 
