“Why should I, in so vast an ocean of books, by which the minds of men are troubled and fatigued, by which the world and men, without reason, are intoxicated and puffed up, books written by people who profess to be philosophers, physicians, mathematicians, and astrologers, but who yet despise and neglect men of learning,--why should I, I say, add anything to this disturbed republic of books and expose this noble science, which seems new and incredible by reason of so many things hitherto unknown, to be torn to pieces by those who are either sworn to the opinions of other men, or are little better than idiots? To you alone, honest and true men of science, who seek knowledge, not from books only, but also from things themselves, do I address these magnetic principles and this new sort of philosophy. If any disagree with my opinion, let them at least take note of the experiments and discoveries which have been worked out and demonstrated by me, with many pains and vigils and expenses. Let them rejoice in these, and employ them to better use if they are able.” The remarks by Dr. Gilbert as to the careful way in which experiments should be made, the plain words in which they should be described, and the attention that should be paid to the work of others, are as true to-day as they were in his time. He said:-- “Whoever wishes to try the same experiments let him handle the substance, not carelessly, but prudently, deftly, and in the proper way, and when the thing does not succeed let him not in ignorance denounce my discoveries, for nothing has been set down in these books which has not been many times performed and repeated. This nature knowledge is almost entirely new and unheard of, save what a very few writers have handed down concerning certain common magnetic powers. Therefore I but seldom quote ancient Greek authors in my support, because neither by using Greek argument nor Greek words can the truth be demonstrated more precisely, for our magnetic doctrine is at variance with most of their principles. “Nor have I brought to this work any pretence of eloquence or ornamentation of words, I have only put difficult and unknown things in such a form of speech, and in such words, as to be clearly understood. Sometimes I have to use new and strange words, not in order to throw a veil of mist over the facts, as alchemists are in the habit of doing, but that hidden things which have no name, never having been observed before, may be plainly and correctly described. To the early fathers of philosophy let due honour be paid, for by them wisdom has been handed down to posterity. But our age has detected and brought to light very many facts which they, if they were now alive, would gladly have accepted. I have therefore not hesitated to expound by demonstration and theory those things which I have discovered by long experience.”