Ere is preſented to thy view one of the Abſtruſeſt as well as the Gentileſt Subjects of Natural Philoſophy, the Experimentall Hiſtory of Colours; which though the Noble Author be pleaſed to think but Begun, yet I muſt take leave to ſay, that I think it ſo well begun, that the work is more than half diſpatcht. Concerning which I cannot but give this advertiſement to the Reader, that I have heard the Author expreſs himſelf, that it would not ſurpriſe him, if it ſhould happen to be objected, that ſome of theſe Experiments have been already publiſhed, partly by Chymiſts, and partly by two or three very freſh Writers upon other Subjects. And though the number of theſe Experiments be but very ſmall, and though they be none of the conſiderableſt, yet it may on this occaſion be further repreſented, that it is eaſie for our Author to name ſeveral men, (of whoſe number I can truly name my ſelf) who remember either their having ſeen him make, or their having read, his Accounts of the Experiments delivered in the following Tract ſeveral years ſince, and long before the publication of the Books, wherein they are mentioned. Nay in divers paſſages (where he could do it without any great inconvenience) he hath ſtruck out Experiments, which he had tryed many years ago, becauſe he ſince found them divulged by perſons from whom he had not the leaſt hint of them; which yet is not touched, with deſign to reflect upon any Ingenious Man, as if he were a Plagiary: For, though our Generous Author were not reſerved enough in ſhowing his Experiments to thoſe that expreſſed a Curioſity to ſee them (amongſt whom a very Learned Man hath been pleaſed publickly to acknowledge it ſeveral years ago[a]2]; yet the ſame thing may be well enough lighted on by perſons that know nothing of one another. And eſpecially Chymical Laboratories may many times afford the ſame Phænomenon about Colours to ſeveral perſons at the ſame or differing times. And as for the few Phænomena mentioned in the ſame Chymical writers, as well as in the following Treatiſe, our Author hath given an account, why he did not decline rejecting them, in the Anotations upon the 47th Experiment of the third part. Not here to mention, what he elſewhere ſaith, to ſhew what uſe may be Juſtifiably made of Experiments not of his own deviſing by a writer of Natural Hiſtory, if, what he employes of others mens, be well examined or verified by himſelf.
In the mean time, this Treatiſe is ſuch, that there needs no other invitation to peruſe it, but that tis compoſed by one of the Deepeſt & Moſt indefatigable ſearchers of Nature, which, I think the World, as far as I know it, affords. For mine own part, I feel a Secret Joy within me, to ſee ſuch beginings upon ſuch Themes, it being demonſtratively true, Mota facilius moveri, which cauſeth me to entertain ſtrong hopes, that this Illuſtrious Virtuoſo and Reſtleſs Inquirer into Nature's Secrets will not ſtop here, but go on and proſper in the Diſquiſition or the other principal Colours, Green, Red, and Yellow. The Reaſoning faculty ſet once afloat, will be carried on, and that with eaſe, eſpecially, when the productions thereof meet, as they do here, with ſo greedy an Entertainment at home and abroad. I am confident, that the ROYAL SOCIETY, lately conſtituted by his MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY for improving Natural knowledge, will Judge it their intereſt to exhort our Author to the proſecution of this Argument, conſidering, how much it is their deſign and buſineſs to accumulate a good ſtock of ſuch accurate Obſervations and Experiments, as may afford them and their Offpring genuine Matter to raiſe a Maſculine Philoſophy upon, whereby the Mind of Man may be enobled with the Knowledge of ſolid Truths, and the Life of Man benefited with ampler accommodations, than it hath been hitherto.
Our Great Author, one of the Pillars of that Illuſtrious Corporation, is conſtantly furniſhing large Symbola's to this work, and is now falln, as you ſee, upon ſo comprehenſive and important a theme, as will, if inſiſted on and compleated, prove one of the conſiderableſt peeces of that ſtructure. To which, if he ſhall pleaſe to add his Treatiſe of Heat and Flame, as he is ready to publiſh his Experimental Accounts of Cold, I eſteem, the World will be obliged to Him for having ſhewed them both the Right and Left Hand of Nature, and the Operations thereof.
The conſidering Reader will by this very Treatiſe ſee abundant cauſe to ſollicit the Author for more; ſure I am, that of whatever of the Productions of his Ingeny comes into Forein parts (where I am happy in the acquaintance of many intelligent friends) is highly valued; And to my knowledge, there are thoſe among the French, that have lately begun to learn Engliſh, on purpoſe to enable themſelves to read his Books, being impatient of their Traduction into Latin. If I durſt ſay all, I know of the Elogies received by me from abroad concerning Him, I ſhould perhaps make this Preamble too prolix, and certainly offend the modeſty of our Author.
Wherefore I ſhall leave this, and conclude with deſiring the Reader, that if he meet with other faults beſides thoſe, that the Errata take notice of (as I believe he may) he will pleaſe to conſider both the weakneſs of the Authors eyes, for not reviewing, and the manifold Avocations of the Publiſher for not doing his part; who taketh his leave with inviting thoſe, that have alſo conſidered this Nice ſubject experimentally, to follow the Example of our Noble Author, and impart ſuch and the like performances to the now very inquiſitive world. Farewell.
H. O.
