C 58» ) - 
applied to annalize the Problems of Nature by which they 
were compounded. 
This has been the Employment of /^Experimenting 
part of Mankind, and the Defign of that Glorious In- 
ftitution of the Royal Socity ; whofe Touthful Vigour car- 
ried them warmly on in the purfuit of Nature, then at a 
farther diftance off ; catcht and grafp'd the Proteus thro* 
all its Changes. And face Publications of this Nature 
have been thought no fmall Advancement to that great 
Defign, becaufe it colletls and preferves fever al tmall 
Tradts, which otherwife might pofftbly be losl, the Pub- 
liflier has yielded to the Sollicitation of feme Friends 
to undertake this Work with an Engagement to ' the 
Learned, of communicating (as conftantly as hath ever 
been at any time prattifed) whatever of a Philofbphical 
Nature fhall come to his hands, clearing the Royal So- 
ciety, (which is no way concerned therein) from all the 
Mifcarriages he may poffible commit ; and promifes him- 
felf he fhall never fail of Materials from the Ingenious, 
fince he propofes neither the mean end of private Advan- 
tage, 7tor t hinks himfelf capable of the Bafeneft, to flifle 
any Verfons Difcovery till another may pretend to it ; 
being refolved immediately to infert in the next Tranf- 
affion what ingenious Communications fhall be fo defired y 
thai the true Author be not defrauded of his due Merit 
and Glory. 
1 
I. A 
