ey were _Their_ Sense, and had _Their_
Approbation, as _certain_ and _true_, 'tis extremely wide of their
intentions, seeing they, in giving way to, or encouraging such
publications, aim chiefly at this, that _ingenious conceptions_, and
important _philosophical matter of Fact_ may be communicated to the learned
and enquiring World, thereby to excite the minds of men to the examination
and improvement thereof. But, to return; As to his _Objections_ against the
_Matter_, I do find that they are no more against mine, than any other way
of _Grinding Glasses_; nor is it more than I have taken notice of my self
in this Passage of the same _Paragraph_, of which sort are also those
difficulties he raises about _Long Glasses_, which are commonly known to
such, as are conversant in making them _It would be convenient also_ (these
are my words) _and not very chargeable, to have four or five several Tools:
One,_ &c. _And, if curiosity shall ever proceed so farr, one for all
lengths, between 1000. and 10000. foot long; for indeed, the _Principle_ is
such, that supposing _the Mandrils well_ made, and of a good length, and
supposing _great care_ be used in working and polishing them, I see no
reason, but that a Glass of 1000. nay, 10000. foot long may be made, as
well as one of 10. For, the reason is the same, supposing the _Mandrils_
and _Tools_ be made sufficiently strong, so that they cannot bend; and
supposing also that the Glass out of which they are wrought, be capable of
so great a regularity in its parts, as to its Refraction._ But next, I must
say that his _Objections_ to me, seem not so considerable, as perhaps he
imagines them. For, as to the possibility of getting Plates of Glass thick
and broad enough without veins, I think _that_ not now so difficult here in
_England_, where I believe is made as good, if not much better Glass for
_Optical Experiments_, than ever I saw come from _Venice_. Next, though it
were better, that the thickest part of a long _Object-Glass_ were exactly
in the middle, yet I can assure Monsieur _Auzout_, that it may be a very
{66} good one, when it is an Inch or two out of it. And I have a good one
by me at present, of 36. foot, that will bare an _Aperture_, if _Saturn_ or
the _Moon_ in the _twilight_, be look'd on with it, of 31/2 Inches over, and
yet the thickest part of the Glass is a great way out of the middle. And I
must take the liberty to doubt, whether ever my _Animadversor_ saw a long
Glass,