thing, though ever so worthy, will raise to himself far more Enemies than Friends. And indeed this Sourness of Criticism, which now bears down all before it, is very injurious to the Honour of our Country. For by despising Men for not being absolutely excellent, we keep them from being so; while Admonitions joined with Praises, and Reproofs with Directions, would quickly bring all Things to a higher Perfection. But the Rudeness of such Criticks I do not so much regard, as the Objections of soberer Men, who have a real good Will to the Promotion of this Design, and yet may be a little dissatisfied in this Place. For here especially they may doubt of two Things; the first, whether the Royal Society being so numerous as it is, will not in short Time be diverted from its primitive Purpose; seeing there will be scarce enough Men of philosophical Temper always found to fill it up; and then others will croud in, who have not the same Bent of Mind; and so the whole Business will insensibly be made rather a Matter of Noise and Pomp, than of real Benefit! The second, whether their Number being so large, will not affright private Men from imparting many profitable Secrets to them; left they should thereby become common, and so they be deprived of the Gain, which else they might be sure of, if they kept them to themselves.
Sect. VIII. A Defence of the Largeness of their Number.To the first I shall reply, That this Scruple is of no Force, in respect of the Age wherein we live. For now the Genius of Experimenting is so much dispers'd, that even in this Nation, if there were one or two more such Assemblies settled, there could not be wanting able Men enough to carry them on. All Places and Corners are now busy and warm about this Work:and
