In composing Histories after this manner, they resolve to proceed, till they have not only obtain'd an Account of all the great and most substantial Trades, but also of all the less Works, and Private Productions, which are confin'd to some particular Soyls, or Corporations, or Families. As this Stock shall increase, they purpose to make it of General use, either by continuing Printing the most remarkable of them, or by freely exposing them to the view of all, that desire such Informations; provided, that at the same time they receive some, they will also communicate others: And they have allured grounds of confidence, that when this attempt shall be compleated, it will be found to bring innumerable benefits to all practical Arts: When all the secrets of Manufactures shall be discover'd, their Materials describ'd, their Instruments figur'd, their Products represented: It will soon be determin'd, how far they themselves may be promoted, and what new consequences may thence be deduc'd. Hereby we shall see whether all the parts of the most obvious Crafts have been brought to perfection; and whether they may not assist each other, more than has been hitherto endeavour'd: Hereby we shall discern the compass, the power, the changes, the degrees, the ages of them all; and speedily understand, whether their effects have been large enough, and the ways of producing them sufficiently compendious. In short, by this help the worst Artificers will be well instructed, by considering the Methods, and Tools of the best: And the greatest Inventors will be exceedingly inlighten'd; because they will have in their view the labours of many men, many places, and many times, wherewith to compare their own. This is the surest, and
