( vi ) 
tendance it is conducted under fuch wife Re¬ 
gulations, that it is as great in Perfedion as it 
was in Defign. The Officers are remarked for 
being a fenhble and learned Set of Men, all 
equal to the Employment, being well verfed 
in the Bufinefs of their feveral Denartments, 
and at all Times willing to gratify the Curiofity 
of the Inquifitive, with any Information that 
can be required of them. 
I am not without Hopes that the time may 
foon come, when every public-fpirited Colledor 
of rare Medals, Minerals, Animals, Plants, In- 
feds, or Stones, and, in fine, of every thing 
that either Nature or Art produces worthy the 
Obfervation of the Curious, will depofit the 
Produce of his Labour in this mod valuable 
Cabinet. If he is of ample Fortune, the Public 
will accept of them as a Prefent, and convey 
his Name to the latefi; Pofterity ; if, on the 
contrary, he is poor, though ingenious, fuch is 
the Generofity of this happy Nation, that I dare 
venture to fay they will, on all fuch Occafions, 
according to the Merit of the Perfon, remove 
that great Obftacle to Science, befides affording 
him a proper Share of Honour, 
Learning was for many Ages in a manner 
buried in Oblivion; a dark Ignofance fpread it- 
feif over the Face of the whole Earth j and, 
what was ftill worfe, did any noble Spirit en¬ 
deavour to rouze himfelf and others from the 
general Lethargy, he was prefently charged 
with publishing new Opinions, and perhaps 
branded 
