It is not therefore to gratifie these _magnificent Fops_, whose _Talents_ reach but to the adjusting of their _Peruques_, courting a _Miss_, or at the farthest writing a smutty, or scurrilous _Libel_, (which they would have to pass for _genuine_ Wit) that I _concern_ my self in these _papers_; but, as well in _Honour_ of our _Royal Founder_, as the _Nation_, to _Assert_ what of other _Countries_ has been surreptitiously _Arrogated_, and by which, they not only value themselves _abroad_; but (prevailing on the Modesty of that Industrious _Assembly_) seek the _deference_ of _those_, who whilst it remains still _silent_, do not so clearly discern this glorious _Plumage_ to be purely _ascititious_, and not a _Feather_ of their own. --But still, _What have they done?_ Those who perfectly comprehend the _Scope_, and _End_ of that noble _Institution_; which is to _improve Natural Knowledge_, and inlarge the _Empire_ of _Operative Philosophy_; not by an _Abolition_ of the _Old_, but by the _Real Effects_ of the _Experimental_; _Collecting_, _Examining_, and _Improving_ their scatter’d _Phænomena_, to establish even the _Received Methods_ and _Principles_ of the _Schools_ (as far as were consistent with _Truth_, and _matter_ of _Fact_) thought it long enough, that the World had been _impos’d_ upon by that _Notional_, and _Formal_ way of delivering divers _Systems_ and _Bodies_ of _Philosophie_ (falsely so call’d) beyond which there was no more _Country_ to discover; which being brought to the _Test_ and _Tryal_, vapours all away in _Fume_, and empty _Sound_. This _Structure_ then being thus _Ruinous_ and _Crazy_; ’tis obvious what they were to do; even the same which skilful _Architects_ do every day before us; by _pulling down_ the decay’d and sinking Wall to erect a _better_, and more _substantial_ in its place: They not only take down the _old_, reject the useless and decay’d; but sever such _Materials_ as are _solid_, and will serve again; bring _new-ones_ in, prepare and frame a _Model_ suitable to so _magnificent_ a _Design_: This _Solomon_ did in order to the _Building_ of the _Material Temple_; and _this_ is here to be pursued in the _Intellectual_: Nay, here was abundance of _Rubbish_ to be clear’d, that the _Area_ might be free; and then was the _Foundation_ to be deeply searched, the _Materials_ accurately _examined_, _squared_, and _adjusted_, before it could be laid: Nor was this the _Labour_ of a _Few_; less than a much longer time, more Cost and Encouragement than any which the _Society_ has yet met withal, could in reason be sufficient effectually to go through so chargeable a Work, and highly necessary.