that he endeavours with all care to conceal his own.
I have now performed my Promise, and drawn out of the Papers of the Society, an Epitome of the chief Works they have conceiv'd in their Minds, or reduc'd into Practice. If any shall yet think they have not usefully employ'd their time, I shall be apt to suspect, that they understand not what is meant by a diligent and profitable labouring about Nature. There are indeed some men who will still condemn them for being idle; unless they immediately profess to have found out the Squaring of the Circle, or the Philosophers Stone, or some other such mighty Nothings. But if these are not satisfied with what the Society has done, they are only to blame the extravagance of their own Expectations. I confess I cannot boast of such pompous Discoveries: They promise no Wonders, nor endeavour after them: Their Progress has been equal, and firm, by natural degrees, and thorough small things, as well as great: They go leisurably on; but their slowness is not caus'd by their idleness, but care. They have contriv'd in their thoughts, and couragiously begun an Attempt, which all Ages had despair'd of. It is therefore fit that they alone, and not others, who refuse to partake of their burden, should be Judges by what steps, and what pace, they ought to proceed.
Such men are then to be intreated not to interrupt their Labours with impertinent rebukes; they are to remember, that the Subject of their Studies is as large as the Universe: and that in so vast an Enterprise, many intervals and disappointments must be reckon'd upon. Though they do not behold that the Society has already fill'd the world with perfect Sciences;
