To expect that so new an Hypothesis should meet with universal Approbation, would be an unpardonable Vanity; nor is it reasonable every Reader should think the Author obliged to remove all his Prejudices and Partialities, so far as to give him the perfect Picture of the Universe he likes best. In many Cases it would be so far from being better for the World, if all Men judged and thought alike, that Providence seems rather to have guarded against it as an Evil, than any how to have promoted it as a general Good: But the following Theory regards the Whole rather than Individuals: And the many worthy Authors cited in the Work, who have all greatly favoured this extensive Way of Thinking, will, I hope, be a sufficient Excuse for forming these obvious Conjectures into a Theory, especially where so great a Problem is attempted as the Solution of the _Via Lacteal_ Phænomenon, which has hitherto been looked upon as an insurmountable Difficulty. How the Author has succeeded in this Point, is a Question of no great Consequence; he has certainly done his best; another, no Doubt, will do better, and a third perhaps, by some more rational Hypothesis, may perfect this Theory, and reduce the Whole to infallible Demonstration: The first System of the solar Planets was far from a true one, but it led the Way to Perfection, and the last we can never too much admire. It is well known, that the first System of the Planets was also but a Conjecture, yet none will deny that it was an happy one. The Discovery of the Magnet Poles; the Government of the Tides; proportional Distance and Periods of the Planets, _&c._ have all their Uses, and undoubtedly were designed to be known. Ignorance is the Disgrace of Mankind, and sinks human Nature almost to that of Reptiles. Knowledge is its Glory and the distinguishing Characteristic of rational Creatures. To Enquiries of this sort, then sure we may say with _Milton_, That God's own Ear listens delighted. The Subject is, no Doubt, the noblest in Nature, and as such, will always merit the Attention of the thinking Part of Mankind. Men of Learning and Science, in all Ages, have ever made it their peculiar Study. Towards the latter End of the Republic, and afterwards in the more peaceable Times of _Trajan_ and the _Plinys_, we have no Reason to doubt but that Astronomy was in the highest Reputation: And notwithstanding _Greece_ had been the chief Seat of the Philosophers, yet may we suppose _Rome_ in those Days little inferior in the Knowledge of the Stars, when we find Men[A] of the first Figure in Life become Authors upon the Subject.