THE PRE FAC E. Τ HE numerous Societies, for the promotion of Literature and Philofophy, which have been formed in different parts of Europe, in the courfe of the laft and prefent centuries, have been not only the means of diffufing knowledge more extenfively, but have contributed to produce a greater number of important difcoveries, than have been effected in any other equal fpace of time. The progress that has been made in Phyfics and the Belles Lettres, owes its rapidity, if not its origin, to the encouragement which these Societies have given to fuch pursuits, and to the emulation which has been excited between different academical bodies, as well as among the individual Members of each inftitution. The collecting and publishing the more important communications which have been delivered to them, A 3 them, have faved from oblivion many very valuable discoveries, or improvements in arts, and much useful information in the various branches of science. These their modeft authors might have been tempted to fupprefs, but for the refpectable fanction of focieties of men of the first eminence and learning in their respective countries, and the eafy mode of publishing, which their volumes of Tranfactions afford. Though, in France, Societies for these purposes have been inftituted in feveral of the provinces, in England, they have almost been confined to the Capital; and however great have been the advantages refulting from the researches of the learned bodies, who are incorporated in London, it feems probable, that the great end of their institutions, the promotion of arts and fciences, may be more widely extended by the forming of Societies, with fimilar views, in the principal towns in this kingdom. Men, however great their learning, often become indolent, and unambitious to improve in knowledge, for want of affociating with others. of fimilar talents and acquirements: Having few opportunities of communicating their ideas, they are not very folicitous to collect or arrange those they have acquired, and are still less anxious about the further cultivation of their minds. But fcience, like fire, is put in motion by collifion.-Where a number of fuch men 1 have frequent opportunities of meeting and converfing together, thought begets thought, and every hint is turned to advantage. A spirit of inquiry glows in every breaft. Every new dif covery relative to the natural, intellectual or moral world, leads to a farther investigation; and each man is zealous to diftinguifh himself in the interefting purfuit. Such have been the confiderations that have led to the institution of the Literary and Philofophical Society of Manchester.-Many years fince, a few Gentlemen, inhabitants of the town, who were infpired with a tafte for Literature and Philofophy, formed themselves into a kind of weekly club, for the purpofe of converfing on fubjects of that nature. Thefe meetings were continued, with fome interruption, for feveral years; and many respectable perfons being defirous of becoming Members, the numbers were increafed fo far, as to induce the founders of the Society to think of extending their original defign. Prefidents, and other officers were elected, a code of laws formed, and a regular Society conftituted, and denominated, THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF MANCHESTER. This Society now prefents the first fruits of its inftitution to the public; and from the affiduity of the Members, and the correfpondence of others, there is reafon to prefume, that a volume A 4 volume may be regularly fent to the prefs, every fecond or third year. The felection of the papers has been made with as much impartiality, and as ftrict attention to their comparative merits, as could be expected, in decifions of fo delicate a nature. Yet the committee are fenfible that a majority of votes, delivered by ballot, is not an infallible teft of excellence, in literary or philofophical productions. This confideration, they trust, will give them a reasonable claim to the candour of the reader, if there fhould be found occafion for its exercife: And they hope that Gentlemen, who have favoured the Society with valuable communications, will deem it no injuftice or difparagement, that their Effays have not been inferted, through the imperfection of neceffary forms and regulations. They are preserved in the Archives of the Society, and may again come under review, when fubjects of a fimilar nature, to thofe on which they treat, are offered for difcuffion.* No fyftematic order has been obferved, in the difpofition of the mifcellaneous materials, which compofe these volumes; becaufe fuch an Several Differtations, by Dr. Percival, Mr. Henry, and others, enumerated in the printed Report of the Society, were published by their refpective authors, long before thefe Memoirs were committed to the prefs. arrangement |