ABSTRACT
IT appears by the author’s dedication to the president, council, and fellows of the royal society, that they had several times required his papers of him relating to this subject, and that in obedience to their orders, he had reduced them into method. He tells them, he was not so vain as to think he had finished this great undertaking with all the advantages of which it was capable : nor was he so diffident of his essay, but that he thought it sufficient for what it pretended to, viz. the distinct expression of all things and notions that fall under discourse. He was sensible of sundry defects in several parts of the book, and therefore desired they would appoint some of their number to consider the whole, and to oiler their observations as to what they thought fit to be amended. Accordingly several of the society, as appears by the Philosophical Transactions of Monday, May 18, 1668, were appointed to answer his desire, for the furthering and facilitating the practice of what he aimed at. But what progress they made in it does not appear. Our author was sensible that his design might lie neglected as other good designs had done ; and the only expedient he could think of to prevent it, was, that it might be sent abroad with the approbation of the royal society,248which might provoke at least the learned part of the world to take notice of, and encourage it, according as they should think it deserved.
