proved, becaiife I judg'd tliem unqueffioiilble to ^any that 
know the undoubted principles upon which rliey are found- 
ed : and it would have bin an unpardonable tn&ing witix 
your patience, upon every occafioiito demonftrate i oz=zj 
with the formality of 2,11 U» S^e^iat, Notwithftaiiding 
which Iconiefs I am too long,, and that for want of more 
time: and yet perhaps hadlftaid longer, I might have fhort- 
- ned this difcourie as to its prefent iubjecSt; but added much 
more by the way of improvement of it to other pur pofes For 
tho I fhail not rafhly anticipate the ''Ec/pjfy^, before the tri- 
umph be legally decreed by the Philofophical Senate, at 
whofe feet I humbly lay this performance : yet I perfwade 
my felf, ^tliat if v/hat I have faid concerning the StrucSture 
and motion of this Automaton, holds true 5 it may be made 
f upon the fame prmciples and in a more capacious fabrick,) 
one of the Nobleft Machines of Wheel work, 'that is yet 
known; lo as to reprefent the entire Syfteme of the Hea- 
'vens, and that by a more natural imitation, and with, fewer 
uncertainties in the motion,and with much lefs trouble in the 
keeping, then 'any movement that I .(in this obfcure place) 
have yet hard of But it will be time enough to confider 
that, when I lhall find how far the fociety approves of this : 
whofe bare judgment fhall be to me under ail my prefent 
confidence^ of farre greater moment then ten thoufand rea- 
Tons of my own. 'Tis indeed only a domeftic Time-keeper 
(if that be any objedrion againftit) intended for a fteady re- 
gular motion at home, and not for wandring ^road : ac- 
commodated to the ready fervice of the induftriolis Student, 
and a fit companion for Books, among which it may poffefs 
a5heif; and by ' it's Myftick. Frontifpiece teach the fober 
Spectator more true wifdom (namely,, that of knowing how 
to Number and fpe.nd his daies ;) then great maffy volumes 
that contain nothing but I^ik and Paper : I am very forr}^, 
that I am not where I might have provided the Movement 
myfelfe, and without the helpof a Carrier, or tliQ trouble 
of a journey, have prefented it to youwithmy:own hands 
inilead of the Scheme and Notion ; which would have been 
a convid:ion beyond all other demonfcrations •* But — and 
if in my prefent circiimitances I have attempted my utmoit 
to obey your commands ; I hope it will be no lefs to your ac- 
ceptance, then it has been to the fatisfadlon of 
Tour mofi affe^ionate Friend and Ser^v. nt 
Sibbertoft 
May, 2 z. B f M, ' WH EELE 
