•ffMJ 
tranfported through the Air, and too much of the 
aquatic kind to fubfift out of Water, or to travel over 
dry Land, as I have often experienced, and any 
Gentleman may, by permitting the Water to eva- 
porate. The Queflion therefore is, how, in a Mafs 
from the cleared; Spring- water, and the pureft Wheat- 
Flour, heated as intenfely as the Compofition will 
admit, thefe Animalcules may be generated ? It is 
not but that I think myfelf fufficiently enabled, by 
my Experiments and Obfcrvations, to anfwer all 
thefe Queftions, and perhaps many more of greater 
Importance ; but I have the ftrong Prejudice of 
near two learned Centuries, and the Opinions of 
Men of much more extenfive Knowledge and Parts 
than myfelf, to hem and get over, before I can 
eftablifh my own Sentiments upon this Subjedj 
and therefore am willing to hope I fhall not appear 
to have chofen a tedious and unneceffary Circuit, 
in tracing out the feveral Steps I have taken, to 
place my Conduct in a more rational Light. I 
mud further obferve, that I am obliged, previoufly 
to any of thefe Thoughts or Difcoveries, to my 
Friend Mr. Hill y who mandated and commented 
upon Theophra/lus with fo much Applaufe, for two 
Obfervations, made while 1 was at London , upon a 
Seed-Infufion he gave me, and the Semen of a Dog 
in his own Houfe, which I, and fome other Friends 
of the Society , fuv j a Peculiarity lingular enough 
was, that the Animalcules feernd all hamper'd, and 
in fome meafure adhering by their fuppofed Tails, 
ftruggling as it were with a kind of ofcillatory Mo- 
tion to difengage themfelvcs, and not advancing at 
all progreffively. The Confequence of this Obfer^ 
vation, which fufficiently hinted that they were then 
enafeent, 
