agitates Nations, and gives birth to, and destroys States; Natural Philosophy considers that Great and Universal Motion, which hath put the whole Frame of Nature in Order, and suspended the Cœlestial Bodies in several Spheres, and which illuminates and extinguishes some Stars; and by following always unalterable Laws, diversifies its effects ad infinitum. If the surprising difference of Manners and Opinions of Mankind is so entertaining; there is too a great deal of Pleasure to study the prodigious diversity of the Structure of the different Species of Animals, with reference to their different Functions, to the Elements they live in, to the Climates they inhabit, and the Aliments they are to take, &c. The most curious strokes of History shall hardly be more curious than the Phosphorus, the cold Liquors which being mixt together, break out into a flame; Silver Trees, the almost Magical Operations of the Load-Stone, and a vast number of Secrets, which Art hath discover'd by a near and diligent Scrutiny of Nature.

Lastly, Natural Philosophy doth as much as it is possible unravel the Footsteps of that Infinite Intellect and Wisdom, who hath made all things: Whereas the Object of History are the disorderly Effects of the Passion, and of Humane Caprices; and so odd a Series of Events, that some formerly fancy'd that a Blind and Senseless Deity had the Direction of them.

We must not look upon the Sublime Reflexions which Natural Philosophy leads us to make concerning the Author of the Universe, as meer Curiosities. For this stupendous Work, which appears always more wonderful the more we know it, gives us such exalted Notions of its Maker, that they fill our Minds with Admiration and Respect. But above all, Astronomy and Anatomy are the two Sciences which more palpably lay before us two grand Attributes of our Creator; one his Immensity by the distance, Magnitude and Number of Cœlestial Bodies; the other his Infinite Knowledge by the Mechanism of Animals. True Natural Philosophy is a kind of Theology.

The different views of Humane Understanding are almost infinite; and Nature is really so. So that we may every day expect some Discoveries, either in Mathematicks or Natural Philosophy, which shall be of a new sort of Utility or Curiosity. Make a Collection of all the different Advantages which the Mathematicks afforded a Hundred Years ago, and you'll find nothing to be compar'd to the Perspective Glasses they have furnish'd since that time, and which are a new Organ to the Sight, and cou'd not be expected from Art. How surpriz'd had the Ancients been, if they had been told that their Posterity, by the help of some Instruments, shou'd one day see a vast number of Objects which they did not see; a Heaven that was unknown to them; and Plants and Animals they did not even suspect it was possible to exist. Naturalists had already a great many curious Experiments; but within about half a Century, the Air-Pump hath produced a prodigious quantity of them wholly new, and which by shewing Bodies in a Space void of Air, shews them as transported in a World different from ours, where they undergo Alterations whereof we had no Notion. The Excellency of Geometrical Methods, which are every day invented and improv'd, may perhaps at last exhaust Geometry; that is, The Art of making Geometrical Discoveries, and that is all: Whereas Natural Philosophy, which contemplates an Object of an unlimited Variety, and Fæcundity, shall always find room for new Observations, and opportunities to increase its vast Stock, and shall have the Advantage of never being a compleat Science.

There are so many things to be discover'd, whereof a great part, in all likelyhood shall never be known; that they give an opportunity to those who will not encounter with the Thorns and Difficulties of Natural Philosophy, to affect a sort of Discouragement. A great many to vilify this Natural Science, pretend a mighty veneration for the works of Nature, and that they are absolutely incomprehensible. However, Nature is never so admirable, nor so admir'd as when known. True it is, that what is known is inconsiderable in comparison of what is not yet known. Nay, Sometimes what is not known, is exactly what seems shou'd be the soonest known. As for instance, it is not at least certainly known, why a Stone thrown up into the Air falls down again; but we certainly know the cause of the Rainbow, why it doth not exceed a certain height; why its breadth is always the same; why when there are two Rainbows at the same time, the Colours of the one are overset with reference to the Colours of the other; and yet the fall of a Stone in the Air appears a more simple Phænomenon, than the Rainbow. But in a word, altho' we do not know every thing, we are not neither ignorant of every thing. And altho' we are ignorant of the most simple Events, yet we have a knowledge of what seems the most Complex. So that if we have on the one hand reason to fear, lest our Vanity shou'd flatter us with the hopes of attaining to the knowledge of things above our reach; on the other we ought to dread, lest our Slothfulness should also flatter us that we are condemn'd to a greater degree of Ignorance than really we are.

People may think that the Sciences do not begin to exert themselves, either because they cou'd be but imperfect among the Ancients; or because we have almost lost the Footsteps of them during the gloomy Darkness of Barbarity; or because a better method hath been taken about 100 Years ago. Was the Progress Historically examin'd, they have already made in so short a time, notwithstanding the strong, but false Prejudices they had long to encounter with, even sometimes the foreign Obstacles they have met with from Authority and Power; the want of Zeal for Sciences so remote from common use, those few who apply'd themselves to this Work, and the weak Motives which engag'd them in it; a Man would wonder at the Greatness and Rapidity of the Progress of the Sciences, and even we might observe some new ones to start out of nothing, and perhaps be tempted to have too great hopes of future Improvements.

The greater reason we have of future Success, the greater we have to look upon the Sciences as in their Cradles, at least Natural Philosophy. And therefore the Academy is only now employ'd to make an ample Provision of Observations, and Facts well attested, which may one day be the foundation of a System. For before the Systematical Natural Philosophy can raise solid Edifices; Experimental Natural Philosophy must be in a condition to supply it with good Materials.

None but Societies, of those too countenanc'd and encourag'd by the Prince, can successfully make and prepare this Collection of Materials. All the Learning, Care, Life and Wealth of one Private Man can never answer this Design. There are too many different Experiments to be made, which are to be too much vary'd, and a long time prosecuted with the same Temper and Mind. The Cause of the least Effect is so wrap'd up, that unless you very carefully open all the various Foldings, you cannot come at it.

Hitherto the Academy of Sciences hath consider'd Nature but by parcels: They have fix'd upon no general System, for fear of falling into the inconveniency of hasty Systems, which are very grateful to the impatience of Humane Understanding; and being once settled, are Obstacles to what Truths are afterwards discover'd. This day we are sure of a Fact, to morrow we shall be sure of another that hath no relation with the former. However some Conjectures are ventur'd at upon Causes; but they are only Conjectures. So that this Collection, which the Academy gives to the Publick, is compos'd of separate Fragments, independant of one another; whereof every one who is the Author, warrants the Facts and Experiments; and whose Arguments are approv'd by the Academy, but with Restrictions becoming Wise and Wary Scepticks.

Time perhaps will come, when these scatter'd Fragments shall be united into one regular Body; and if they be such as they are wish'd, they may of themselves Unite. A