1table Reader, how much the ſtrange Confu
ſions of this unhappy Nation, in the midſt
of which I have made and written theſe
Experiments, are apt to diſturb that calm
neſs of Minde, and undiſtractedncſs of
Thoughts, that are wont to be requiſite to
Happy Speculations. But I preſume,
that by all theſe things put together, he
will readily perceive, That I have been
ſo far from following the Poets prudent
Counſel touching the ſlow Publication of
Books deſign'd to purchaſe credit by,
ſions of this unhappy Nation, in the midſt
of which I have made and written theſe
Experiments, are apt to diſturb that calm
neſs of Minde, and undiſtractedncſs of
Thoughts, that are wont to be requiſite to
Happy Speculations. But I preſume,
that by all theſe things put together, he
will readily perceive, That I have been
ſo far from following the Poets prudent
Counſel touching the ſlow Publication of
Books deſign'd to purchaſe credit by,
—— Nonumque prematur in Annum
that I ſuffer this Treatiſe to come abroad
into the World with a multitude of Diſad
vantages.
into the World with a multitude of Diſad
vantages.
But if it be demanded, why then I did
not make it fitter for the Preſs before I ſent
it thither? my Anſwer muſt be, That not
at firſt imagining that this ſort of Experi
ments would prove any thing near ſo trouble
ſome, either to make, or to Record, as I
afterwards found them, I did, to engage
the Printer to diſpatch, promiſe him to ſend
him the whole Epiſtle in a very ſhort time:
So that although now and then the occaſional
vacations of the Preſs, by reaſon of Feſti-
not make it fitter for the Preſs before I ſent
it thither? my Anſwer muſt be, That not
at firſt imagining that this ſort of Experi
ments would prove any thing near ſo trouble
ſome, either to make, or to Record, as I
afterwards found them, I did, to engage
the Printer to diſpatch, promiſe him to ſend
him the whole Epiſtle in a very ſhort time:
So that although now and then the occaſional
vacations of the Preſs, by reaſon of Feſti-