Miscellanea Curiosa.

TO THE
READER.

SOME of the Principal Discoveries and Enquiries, both in Physical and Mathematical Learning, being register'd in the Voluminous Journals of the Royal Society, are amongst a multitude of less useful Matters, so Obscurely hid, that but very few inquisitive Gentlemen ever so much as heard of them.

The Design therefore of the ensuing Collection, is to digest in a convenient Method, all the most curious Philosophical and Mathematical Discoveries, as they are to be met with, which may any way tend to the Use of Life or Advancement of Arts and Sciences.

And on this Occasion, it will be convenient to intimate to the Reader;

First, That the Theories and Discourses here collected, have already past the Censure of the Learned World: Who have acknowleg'd them the most satisfactory Accounts of Nature's Proceedings, wherein some of her greatest Depths are fathom'd, and a Foundation laid for Posterity to build an infinite Superstructure.

Secondly, That they are related (Verbatim) just as they were delivered in, or read before the Royal Society: For it has been the Opinion of the most Judicious among those Honourable Members, that it is impossible so to abridge them, (which are but Abridgments themselves) as not to render them obscure and unintelligible.

A Translation of Part of Monsieur Fontenelle's Preface to the Memoirs of the Royal Academy at Paris, in the Year 1699. treating of the Usefulness of Mathematical Learning.

BUT to what purpose should People become fond of the Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy. Of what use are the Transactions of the Academy? These are common Questions, which most do not barely propose as Questions; and it will not be improper to clear them.

People very readily call useless, what they do not understand. It is a sort of Revenge; and as the Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy are known but by few, they are generally look'd upon as useless. The reason of this is; because they are crabbed and not easily learnt.

We have a Moon to light us in the Night; What is it to us, say they, whether Jupiter hath four? Why so many laborious Observations, so many tedious Calculations to know exactly their Course? They'll not afford us the more Light for it; and Nature, which hath plac'd these little Planets without the reach of our Eyes, doth not seem to have made them for us. According to this plausible Argument they ought not to have been observ'd with a Telescope, nor study'd. But it is certain, that we had been considerable Loosers by it: For those who have some insight into the Principles of Geography and Navigation know, that since these four Moons about Jupiter have been discover'd, they have been more useful to those Sciences than our own Moon; and that they serve, and shall more and more serve to make new Sea-Charts, infinitely more exact than the Old; and are likely to save the Lives of a vast many Seamen. Did we reap no other advantage from Astronomy than this from these Satellites of Jupiter, that wou'd be sufficient to justifie those prodigious Calculations, those assiduous and nice Observations, this great number of elaborate Instruments, and this Noble Edifice built only for this Science. However the greatest part of Mankind know nothing of these Satellites of Jupiter, unless perhaps by hear-say, and that too confusedly; or else they are ignorant of what Affinity they have with Navigation, or of the great Improvements which have been lately made in it.

This is the Fate of Sciences, which are study'd and improv'd by few. Most People are not sensible of their Progress, and especially when made in some mean Callings. But what doth it signifie, that we can now more easily direct the Course of Rivers, cut out Canals, and settle new Navigations; because our Method of taking the Level and making Sluces is infinitely better than heretofore? Some Masons and Seamen have thereby found their Business easier, but they themselves were not sensible of the Skill of the Geometrician who directed them. They were mov'd, as the Body by a Soul, it doth not know. Others are yet less sensible of the Genius that presided over the Undertaking; and the World is the better for its succeeding well, but not altogether free from Ingratitude.

Anatomy, which is some time since so carefully study'd, can't become more exact, but Chyrurgical Operations must also be more sure. Surgeons know this; but those who receive the Benefit of their Art know nothing of it. And indeed how should they? They would be oblig'd to compare Old with Modern Surgery; and this wou'd take too much Time, and go against the Grain: So that since the Operation hath succeeded well, they do not think it material to know whether it had succeeded as well in another Century.

It is strange that so many things are before our Eyes, and that we do not see them. Your Handycraft Shops are full of ingenious Works; but yet we hardly mind them: And very useful and well contriv'd Instruments and Experiments want Spectators, who wou'd be wonderfully pleas'd, wou'd they take the pains to admire them.

If a Learned Society have made some Improvements in Geometry, Anatomy, Mechanicks, or any other useful Science, it must not be expected, that the World will go back to so remote a Spring to thank and applaud them for the Usefulness of their Productions: For it will be more easie to enjoy the Benefit of their Discoveries and Improvements than to know them. The Determination of Longitude by the Satellites, the Discovery of the Ductus Thoracicus, a more convenient, and more exact Level, are not Novelties so fit to make a noise as a pleasant Poem, or a handsome Piece of Oratory.

Altho' the Usefulness of Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy is obscure, yet it is real. To consider Mankind in their Natural State, nothing is more useful to them, than what may preserve their Lives, and produce those Arts, which are both great Helps and Ornaments to Publick Societies.

As for what concerns the Preservation of Life, it peculiarly belongs to Physick; which for that reason is divided in the Academy into three Branches, which make three different sorts of Members of this Society, Anatomy, Chymistry, and Botanicks. Every Body knows of what Importance it is to have an exact Knowledge of Human Body, and of what Medicines may be extracted from Minerals and Plants.

As for Arts, too tedious to be reckon'd, they depend some upon Natural Philosophy, others upon Mathematicks.

One wou'd think at first, that if the Mathematicks were to be confin'd