TO THE READER.

...they would otherwise not have been willing to apply the seed The Latin sementum suggests the sowing of ideas or the initial groundwork of an argument.. Those men, endowed with a sharp intellect, especially in Physics Physics: In this era, the term referred to "natural philosophy," the study of the physical world and the laws of nature, have given testimony of labor not to be regretted in unrolling this work; for they are considered to have examined it in its entirety, and they cite here and there certain things that differ from common opinions, having confirmed them by their own calculation. Perhaps others who philosophize freely, and are not slaves to the Peripatus Peripatus: A reference to the followers of Aristotle, known as Peripatetics, who were often criticized by 17th-century scientists for adhering too strictly to ancient dogma, will find that it has set a value on the reading and—as is fitting with paradoxes—on careful meditation.

For me, it will be enough to have made this offering to the spirit spirit: The original uses Manibus, or the "Manes," a Roman term for the souls of deceased loved ones of the most noble Boswell with the diligence of this careful edition, so that I might not offend those spirits of Gilbert by the publishing of a writing which his brother William Gilbert of Melford, who published his brother’s posthumous work De Mundo in 1651 dared to bring into the Royal Library, dedicating it to the Prince, after collecting it from scattered papers and arranging it into a system of art, by a method (as I said) not to be approved by all.

Farewell, and expect from me shortly—God willing original Greek: θεῷ διδόντι (theō didonti)—several unpublished works of Verulam Verulam: Francis Bacon, Baron Verulam, whose manuscripts were also handled by Boswell of various subject matter and style in Latin, which, having been transferred to me from the paper chests of Boswell’s kindness in manuscript form, currently exist only in English. Farewell.