To the
Royal Society.
fter my Address to our Great Founder and Patron, I
could not but think my self oblig'd, in consideration of those many Ingagements you have laid upon me, to
offer these my poor Labours to this MOST ILLUSTRIOUS ASSEMBLY. YOU have been pleas'd formerly to accept of
these rude Draughts. I have since added to them some Descriptions, and some Conjectures of
my own. And therefore, together with YOUR Acceptance, I must also beg YOUR pardon. The Rules YOU have
prescrib'd YOUR selves in YOUR Philosophical Progress do seem the best that have ever yet been practis'd. And
particularly that of avoiding Dogmatizing, and the espousal of any Hypothesis not
sufficiently grounded and confirm'd by Experiments. This way seems the most excellent, and may preserve both
Philosophy and Natural History from its former Corruptions. In saying which, I may seem to
condemn my own Course in this Treatise; in which there may perhaps be some Expressions, which may seem more
positive then YOUR Prescriptions will permit: And though I desire to have them understood only as
Conjectures and Quæries (which YOUR Method does not altogether disallow) yet if even in those I have
exceeded, 'tis fit that I should declare, that it was not done by YOUR Directions. For it is most unreasonable, that
YOU should undergo the imputation of the faults of my Conjectures, seeing YOU can receive so
small advantage of reputation by the sleight Observations of
YOUR most humble and
most faithful Servant
Robert Hooke.