But there be two reasons, by which you have prevailed with me, at least to do something. _First_, because it is the common Fate of the _English_, that out of a modesty, they forbear to publish their Discoveries, till prosecuted to some good degree of certainty and perfection; yet are not so wary, but that they discourse of them freely enough to one another, and even to Strangers upon occasion; whereby others, who are more hasty and venturous, comming to hear of the notion, presently publish something of it, and would be reputed thereupon, to be the first Inventers thereof: though even that little, which they can then say of it, be perhaps much less, and more imperfect, than what the true Authors could have published long before, and what they had really made known (publikely enough, though not in print) to many others. As is well known amongst us as to the business of the _Lymphatick Vessels_ in _Anatomy_; the _Injection of Liquors into the veins of Living animals_; the _Exhibiting of a straight line equal to a crooked_; the _spot in Jupiter_, whence his motion about his own Axis may be demonstrated; and many other the like considerable Inventions. The _other_ Reason (which, with me, is more really of weight, though even the former be not cotemptible) is, because, as I have been already for at least three or four years last past diverted from prosecuting the inquiry or perfecting the Hypothesis, as I had thoughts to do; so I do not know, but like Emergencies may divert me longer; and whether I shall ever so {267} do it, as to bring it to perfection, I cannot determine. And therefore, if as to my self any thing should _humanitus accidere_; yet possibly the notion may prove worth the preserving to be prosecuted by others, if I do it not. And therefore I shall, at least to your self, give some general account of my present imperfect and undigested thoughts.