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LXVI. Obfervations on a Clock of Mr. John 
Shelton, made at St. Helena : In a Letter 
to the Right Honourable Lord Charles Ca- 
vendifh, V ice-P ref dent of the Royal So - 
ciety, from the Reverend Nevil Malkelyne, 
M. A. RR.S. 
My Lord, 
Read jan. 2*, II V THEN we refled: upon the great 
V V degree of perfection, to which 
the fciences are at prefent brought, and, at the fame 
time, confider from what low beginnings in former 
times they have arifen to this hight, we are apt to 
pleafe ourfelves with the idea of a certain kind of 
fuperioritv, which we imagine we enjoy above the 
learned, who have gone before us. But, when we 
recollect by what flow degrees, and by what painful 
applications of ingenious men, in various ages, thefe 
improvements have been brought about, we fhall, 
perhaps, be inclined to own, that our fancied l'upc- 
riority over our predeceflors in fcience is chiefly that 
of being fo fortunate, as, by coming after them, to 
enjoy the fruits of their labours, joined to our own. 
But, though we are obliged to give up part of the 
fatisfadion, which we might receive, from afluming 
fomething to ourfelves, from the prefent ftate of 
fcience ; yet, in return, we fhall be gratified with a 
pleafure not at all inferior, which the curious mind 
muft receive, from this very conlideration of the luc- 
' ceflive 
