a full Demonftration of it from Rules of Arithmetick.

THIS, perhaps,may be objected against, by thofe, who maintain the Infinity of Matter, and therefore, will not allow that any Species of it can be exhausted. For Answer to which, let us examine the nobleft Branch of Modern Wit or Invention, planted and cultivated by the prefent Age, and, which of all others, hath born the moft, and the faireft Fruit. For tho' fome Remains of it were left us by the An tients, yet have not any of those, as I remember, been tranflated or compiled into Syftems for Modern Ufe. Therefore We may affirm, to our own Honor, that it has in fome fort, been both invented, and brought to a Perfection by the fame Hands. What I mean, is that highly celebrated Talent among the Modern Wits, of deducing Similitudes, Allufions, and Applications, very Surprizing, Agreeable, and Appofite, from the Genitals of either Sex, together with their proper Uses. And truly, having obferved how little Invention bears any Vogue, befides what is de rived into thefe Channels, I have fometimes had a Thought, That the happy

Genius

Genius of our Age and Country, was prophetically held forth by that *Crefie fragm. antient typical Description apud Photium. of the Indian Pygmies; whofe

*

Stature did not exceed above two Foot; Sed quorum pudenda craffa, & ad talos uf que pertingentia. Now, I have been very curious to infpect the late Productions, wherein the Beauties of this kind have most prominently appeared. And altho' this Vein hath bled fo freely, and all Endeavours have been used in the Power of Human Breath, to dilate, extend, and and keep it open: Like the + Herodot. L. 4. Scythians, who had a Cu. ftom, and an Inftrument, to blow up the Privities of their Mares, that they might yield the more Milk; Yet I am under an Apprehenfion, it is near growing dry, and past all Recovery; And that either fome new Fonde of Wir fhould, if poffible, be provided, or else that we must e'en be content with Repetition here, as well as upon all other Occafions.

THIS will stand as an uncontestable Argument, that our Modern Wits are not to reckon upon the Infinity of Matter, for a constant Supply. What remains

therefore

therefore, but that our laft Recourse must. be had to large Indexes, and little Compendiums; Quotations must be plentifully gathered, and bookt in Alphabet; To this End, tho' Authors need be little confulted, yet Criticks, and Commentators, and Lexicons carefully muft. But above all, thofe judicious Collectors of bright Parts, and Flowers, and Obfervanda's, are to be nicely dwelt on; by fome called the Sieves and Boulters of Learning; tho' ic is left undetermined, whether they dealt in Pearls or Meal; and confequently, whether we are more to value that which paffed thro', or what staid behind.

BY these Methods, in a few Weeks, there ftarts up many a Writer, capable of ma naging the profoundeft, and most univer fal Subjects. For, what though his Head be empty, provided his Common placeBook be full; And if you will bate him but the Circumflances of Method, and Style, and Grammar, and Invention ; allow him but the common Priviledges of tranfcribing from others, and digreffing from himself, as often as he fhall fee Occafion; He will defire no more Ingredients to wards fitting up a Treatife, that shail

make

make a very comely Figure on a Bookfeller's Shelf, there to be preferved neat and clean, for a long Eternity, adorn'd with the Heraldry of its Title, fairly in fcribed on a Label; never to be thumb'd or greas'd by Students, nor bound to everlasting Chains of Darkness in a Library: But when the Fulness of time is come, fhall happily undergo the Tryal of Purgatory, in order to afcend the Sky.

WITHOUT these Allowances, how is it poffible, we Modern Wits fhould ever have an Opportunity to introduce our Collections lifted under fo many thoufand Heads of a different Nature ? for want of which, the Learned World would be deprived of infinite Delight, as well as Instruction, and we our felves buried beyond Redress in an inglorious and undiftinguifht Oblivion.

FROM fuch Elements as these, I am alive to behold the Day, wherein the Corporation of Authors can out-vie all its Brethren in the Field. A Happiness derived to us with a great many others, from our Scythian Ancestors; among whom, the Number of Pens was fo in

finite,

finite, that the * Grecian Eloquence had no other way of

Herodot. L. 4.

expreffing it, than by faying, That in the Regions, far to the North, it was hardly poffible for a Man to travel, the very Air was fo replete with Feathers.

THE Neceffity of this Digreffion, will cafily excufe the Length; and I have chofen for it as proper a Place as I could readily find. If the judicious Reader can affign a fitter, I do here empower him to remove it into any other Corner he pleases. And fo I return with great Alacrity to pursue a more important Concern.

SECT.