( S °4 ) 
Philo fophy, inthecompafs of our memories, and the Age be- 
fore us, reprefenting what hath been attempted by the Modem 
Vogmatifts , the Revivers of Ancient SeHs, the late Experimenters 5 
th q Chymifts, and the Writers of Particular Subjects: All which 
he deduceth, to the end, that by obferving, wherein others 
have excelled , and wherein they have been th ought to/W/, he 
might the better fhew, what is to be expedited from thefe new 
Undertakers 5 and what moved them to enter upon a wayof 
Inquiry, different from that, on which the former have pro- 
ceeded. 
The Second^ confifb of the Narrative it felf ^ in which the 
tliflorian, out of the Regijlers and journals of the Royal Socie- 
ty ( which he hath been permitted to perufe ) relateth the firfi 
Occafons of their Meetings, the Encouragement and Patro- 
nage they have received* their Patent r their Statutes, the whole 
Order and Scheme of their Defigny, the Qualifications of their 
Members • the Ear gene fs of their Number Their weekly A J]em- 
blies • the manner of their Inquiry $ their way of Regiftrmg ; and 
their Vniverfal Correfifiondency s together with a Particular Enu- 
meration of the Principal Subjects, about which they have been 
employed, lince they were made a Royal Corporation , and this, 
to filence that importunate demand, What they have dune all 
this while f And here the Hifiorian hopes, that all reajonable 
men will find fatisfa&ion, when they fhall cor fider, T/r/^That, 
befides that this Society hath paffcd through the firft d facul- 
ties of their Charter, and Model, and overcome all oppofitions, 
which ufe to arife againft the beginnings of great things } their 
Aim, aud the Nature of their Defign, and the Extent of their 
task do admit of no violent and hafty difpatch 4 Next, That, 
though their work hath not been expofed to open view, yet 
their Regijters are ftored with a good number of Particulars 
they have taken pains about j As, 
1. Queries, and DireUiens 9 they have given abroad; 
2. Prepofals, and Recommendations ,they have made. 
3. Relations ^ they have received. 
4. Experiments, they have tried. 
5. Obfervations, they have taken. 
6 X lnftrumentsz they have invented, or advanced. 
7. Theories > 
