That which I do here most humbly present to your sacred Majesty, is the best part of my meditations upon the natural causes of events, both of such as are commonly known, and of such as have been of late artificially exhibited by the curious. They are ranged under seven heads. 1. Problems of gravity. 2. Problems of tides. 3. Problems of vacuum. 4. Problems of heat. 5. Problems of hard and soft. 6. Problems of wind and weather. 7. Problems of motion perpendicular and oblique, &c. To which I have added two propositions of Geometry: one is, the duplication of the cube, hitherto sought in vain; the other, a detection of the absurd use of arithmetic, as it is now applied to geometry. The doctrine of natural causes hath not infallible and evident principles. For there is no effect which the power of God cannot produce by many several ways. But seeing all effects are produced by motion, he that supposing some one or more motions, can derive from them the necessity of that effect whose cause is required, has done all that is to be expected from natural reason. And though he prove not that the thing was thus produced, yet he proves that thus it may be produced when the materials and the power of moving are in our hands: which is as useful as if the causes themselves were known. And notwithstanding the absence of rigorous demonstration, this contemplation of nature (if not rendered obscure by empty terms) is the most noble employment of the mind that can be, to such as are at leisure from their necessary business. This that I have done I know is an unworthy present to be offered to a king: though considered, as God considers offerings, together with the mind and fortune of the offerer, I hope will not be to your Majesty unacceptable. But that which I chiefly consider in it is, that my writing should be tried by your Majesty’s excellent reason, untainted with the language that has been invented or made use of by men when they were puzzled; and who is acquainted with all the experiments of the time; and whose approbation, if I have the good fortune to obtain it, will protect my reasoning from the contempt of my adversaries. I will not break the custom of joining to my offering a prayer; and it is, that your Majesty will be pleased to pardon this following short apology for my _Leviathan_ . Not that I rely upon apologies, but upon your Majesty’s most gracious general pardon. That which is in it of theology, contrary to the general current of divines, is not put there as my opinion, but propounded with submission to those that have the power ecclesiastical. I did never after, either in writing or discourse, maintain it.