Some of the Principal Discoveries and Enquiries, both in _Physical_ and
_Mathematical_ Learning, being register'd in the Voluminous Journals of
the _Royal Society_, are amongst a multitude of less useful Matters, so
Obscurely hid, that but very few inquisitive Gentlemen ever so much as
heard of them.
The Design therefore of the ensuing Collection, is to digest in a
convenient Method, all the most curious _Philosophical_ and
_Mathematical_ Discoveries, as they are to be met with, which may any
way tend to the Use of Life or Advancement of Arts and Sciences.
And on this Occasion, it will be convenient to intimate to the Reader;
_First_, That the Theories and Discourses here collected, have already
past the Censure of the _Learned World_: Who have acknowleg'd them the
most satisfactory Accounts of Nature's Proceedings, wherein some of her
greatest Depths are fathom'd, and a Foundation laid for Posterity to
build an infinite _Superstructure_.
_Secondly_, That they are related (_Verbatim_) just as they were
delivered in, or read before the _Royal Society_: For it has been the
Opinion of the most Judicious among those _Honourable Members_, that it
is impossible so to abridge them, (which are but Abridgments themselves)
as not to render them obscure and unintelligible.