I, A 'Difcourfe upon the U/efulnefs of the Silk, 
of Spiders. By Monfieur Bon, Trejident of 
the Court of Accounts , Aydes and Finances , and 
^reftdent of the Royal Society of Sciences at Mont- 
pellier. Communicated by the Author. 
E X T to the Principal Care which all Men owe 
to their more neceffary and effential Duties, 
whether they relate to their own Imploymenrs, or re- 
fped themfelves or other People * it is requifite, that 
they carefully make Choice of fuch Diverfions, as are 
as well Ufeful as Entertaining ; And as Inquiries into 
Nature are agreeable to all forts of Men, of what De- 
gree or Station foever 3 it is no wonder, that the great- 
eft part of Mankind has prefer’d this kind Study, which 
has al ways been look’d on as a Recreation, and a means 
to Inftrud as well as Divert the Mind. 
And indeed what Amufements can we find more folid 
and agreeable 3 or in what Science can we make fo great 
a Progrefs with fo little Pains? It is not the fame in 
other Parts of Philofophy, where Knowledge is not to 
be attained without profound Meditation and continual 
Labour. What a difference is there betwixt this and 
other Studies ? The one requires fome few leifure Mo- 
ments only, but the others a Mans whole Time. 
How then can we blame thofe, who fometimes amufc 
themfelves in unfolding the Secrets of Nature, which 
cofts them fo little ? Or ought any one to deprive him- 
felf of the like Diverfions > The leaft Infed or Plant, 
or uncommon Stone, may afford us agreeable Refle&i- 
