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ft rift, will not exclude now-and then a probable 
Confequence from appearing, provided it feems con- 
nefted with Come preceding manifeft Truth; for 
fuch muft be allow'd, as proper Foundations for a 
more exaft Inquiry in a Matter I am very far from 
pretending to have exhaufted. I muft therefore ob- 
ferve, for my own Security againft future Objeftions, 
that tho' I add no new decifive Experiment to my 
prefent Lid, or throw any more Light upon the 
Subjeft than what I have already amafled, I may 
poflibly, before my Eflay appears, whether by the 
Advice of Friends, or otherwife, conceive more 
mature Thoughts, re) eft fome of the prefent, and 
adopt others in their Place. As this wilUbc done, 
without affecting in any degree the main Syftem, 
which I imagine turns upon unqueft ion able Truths, 
it is a Liberty I am perfuaded that equitable and 
learned Society will indulge me in, if no other 
Conftderation prevails, than the great Obfcurity that 
hangs over a Subjeft fo extenfive and fo intricate as 
this is; in which I am already engag’d much farther 
than I at firft forefaw, and indeed too far to recede 
without faying fomething. 
§ 2 . 1 (hall take as little Notice as may be, in 
this fhort Summary, of the almoft inevitable Mis- 
takes others may have made in this Matter be- 
fore me, and the too hafty Confequenc^s they have 
drawn from Appearances that naturally furprife by 
their Novelty. Such Surprize is but too apt to cap- 
tivate Perfons even of the mod fere tie Thoughts, 
much more the young and unexperienced ; fuch as 
Mr. Hartfoeker was, when he firft difcover’d the 
fpermatic Animals. 
