Chapter I: Front Matter

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By the Council of the ROYAL SOCIETY of London for Improving of Natural Knowledge.

Ordered, That the Book written by Robert Hooke, M.A. Fellow of this Society, Entituled, Micrographia, or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies, made by Magnifying Glasses, with Observations and Inquiries thereupon, Be printed by John Martyn, and James Allestry, Printers to the said Society.

Novem. 23. 1664.

BROUNCKER. P.R.S.

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MICROGRAPHIA:

OR SOME

Physiological Descriptions

OF

MINUTE BODIES

MADE BY

MAGNIFYING GLASSES

WITH

OBSERVATIONS and INQUIRIES thereupon.

* * * * *

By R. HOOKE, Fellow of the ROYAL SOCIETY.

* * * * *

_Non possis oculo quantum contendere Linceus,
Non tamen idcirco contemnas Lippus inungi._ Horat. Ep. lib. 1.

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LONDON, Printed by Jo. Martyn, and Ja. Allestry, Printers to the ROYAL SOCIETY, and are to be sold at their Shop at the Bell in S. Paul’s Church-yard. M DC LX V.

* * * * *

TO THE

KING.

SIR,

I Do here most humbly lay this _small_ Present at _Your Majesties_ Royal feet. And though it comes accompany’d with two _disadvantages_, the _meanness_ of the _Author_, and of the _Subject_; yet in both I am _incouraged_ by the _greatness_ of your _Mercy_ and your _Knowledge_. By the _one_ I am taught, that you can _forgive_ the most _presumptuous Offendors_: And by the _other_, that you will not _esteem_ the least work of _Nature_, or _Art_, unworthy your _Observation_. Amidst the many _felicities_ that have accompani’d _your Majesties_ happy _Restauration_ and _Government_, it is none of the least considerable that _Philosophy_ and _Experimental Learning_ have _prosper’d_ under your _Royal Patronage_. And as the calm prosperity of your Reign has given us the _leisure_ to follow these _Studies_ of _quiet_ and _retirement_, so it is just, that the _Fruits_ of them should, by way of _acknowledgement_, be return’d to _your Majesty_. There are, Sir, several other of your Subjects, of your _Royal Society_, now busie about _Nobler_ matters: The _Improvement_ of _Manufactures_ and _Agriculture_, the _Increase_ of _Commerce_, the _Advantage_ of _Navigation_: In all which they are _assisted_ by _your Majesties Incouragement_ and _Example_. Amidst all those _greater_ Designs, I here presume to bring in that which is more _proportionable_ to the _smalness_ of my Abilities, and to offer some of the _least_ of all _visible things_, to that _Mighty King_, that has _establisht an Empire_ over the best of all _Invisible things_ of this World, the _Minds_ of Men.

Your Majesties most humble and most obedient Subject and Servant,

ROBERT HOOKE.

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TO THE

ROYAL SOCIETY.

After 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.

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THE