her with
all those _New_ and useful _Instruments_, _Contrivances_ and
_Experiments_, _Mathematical_ and _Physical_, publish'd in his
_Posthumous Works_ by the most accomplish'd Mr. _Waller_, _Secretary_ to
the _R. Society_. And since those the incomparably learned Sir _Isaac
Newton_, now _President_ of the _Royal Society_; Mr. _Haly_, the Worthy
_Professor_ of _Geometry_ in the _University_ of _Oxford_; Dr. _Grew_,
and several more, whose Works and useful Inventions sufficiently
celebrate their Merits: I did mention the _Barometer_, to which might be
added the prodigious effects of the _Speculum Ustorium_, surpassing what
the _French_ pretend to, as confidently, or rather _audaciously_, they
do, and to other admirable Inventions, injuriously _arrogated_ by
_Strangers_, tho' due of right to _Englishmen_, and Members of this
Society; but 'tis not the business of this Preface to enumerate all,
tho' 'twas necessary to touch on some Instances.

{xciii:1} Neh. 2. 19.

{xciii:2} Neh. 4. 17.

{xcvi:1} _Since this _Epistle_ was first written and publish'd the
_University of Oxford_ have instituted, and erected a _Society_ for the
promoting of _Natural_ and _Experimental Knowledge_, in consort with the
_R. Society_, with which they keep a mutual Correspondence: This
mention, for that some _Malevolents_ had so far endeavour'd to possess
divers Members of the _University_; as if the _Society_ design'd nothing
less than the undermining of that, and other illustrious _Academies_,
and which indeed so far prevail'd, as to breed a real Jealousy for some
considerable time: But as this was never in the Thoughts of the
_Society_ (which had ever the _Universities_ in greatest Veneration) so
the Innocency and Usefulness of its Institution has at length disabus'd
them, vindicated their Proceedings, dissipated all Surmises, and, in
fine, produced an ingenious, friendly and candid Union and
Correspondence between them._

ADVERTISEMENT.

That I have frequently inserted divers _Historical_ and other Passages,
_apposite_, agreeable to the _Subject_ (abstaining from a number more
which I might have added) let it be _remember'd_ that I did not
altogether compile this _Work_ for the sake of our ordinary _Rustics_,
(meer _Foresters_ and _Wood-men_) but for the more _Ingenious_; the
Benefit, and Diversion of _Gentlemen_, and Persons of _Quality_, who
often refresh themselves in these agreeable _Toils_ of _Planting_, and
the _Garden_: For