ture, our common Mother, in her Operations; from hence to all the works of Mens hands, the divers Artifices of several Ages, the various Materials, the improvement of Trades, the advancement of Manufactures; in which last alone there is to be found in great Content, that many mighty Princes of the former and present Times, amidst the pleasures of Government, which are no doubt the highest in the World, have striven to excel in some Manual Arts.
In this spacious field their Observations may wander, and in this whatever they shall meet with, they may call their own. Here they will not only enjoy the cold contentment of Learning, but that which is far greater, of Discovering. Many things that have been hitherto hidden, will arise and expose themselves to their view; many methods of advancing what we have already, will come in their way; nay, even many of the loft Rarities of Antiquity will be hereby restor'd. Of these a great quantity has been overwhelm'd in the ruins of Time; and they will sooner be retriev'd by our labouring anew in the material Subjects whence they first arose, than by our plodding everlastingly on the antient Writings. Their Inventions may be soonest regain'd the same way by which their Medals and Coins have been found; of which the greatest part has been recover'd, not by those who sought for them on purpose in old Rubbish, but by digging up Foundations to raise new Buildings, and by plowing the Ground to sow new Seed.
This is the Work we propose to be encourag'd, which at once regards the discovering of new Secrets, and the purifying and repairing all the profitable Things of Antiquity. The Supply that is needful to finish it, will neither impoverish Families, nor ex-
