cannot defer their Expectations so long, as is commonly requisite for the ripening of any new Contrivance. But especially having long handled their Inftruments in the same Fashion, and regarded their Materials with the same Thoughts, they are not apt to be surpriz'd much with them, nor to have any extraordinary Fancies, or Raptures about them.
These are the usual Defects of the Artificers themselves: Whereas the Men of freer Lives, have all the contrary Advantages: They do not approach those Trades, as their dull and unavoidable, and perpetual Employments, but as their Diversions: They come to try those Operations, in which they are not very exact, and so will be more frequently subject to commit Errors in their Proceeding: Which very Faults and Wandrings, will often guide them into new Light, and new Conceptions: And lastly, there is also some Privilege to be allow'd to the Generosity of their Spirits, which have not been subdu'd, and clogg'd by any constant Toil, as the others. Invention is an Heroic Thing, and plac'd above the reach of a low and vulgar Genius: It requires an active, a bold, a nimble, a restless Mind: A thousand Difficulties must be contemn'd, with which a mean Heart would be broken; many Attempts must be made to no Purpose; much Treasure must sometimes be scatter'd without any Return; much Violence and Vigour of Thoughts must attend it; some Irregularities and Excesses must be granted it, that would hardly be pardon'd by the severe Rules of Prudence. All which may persuade us, that a large and an unbounded Mind is likely to be the Author of greater Productions, than the calm, obscure, and fetter'd Endeavours of the Mechanics themselves: And that as in the Generation of Children, those are usually
