The Philosophical Works of the Honourable Robert Boyle Esq. - Abridged, Methodized, and Disposed Under the General Heads of Physics, Statics, Pneumatics, Natural History, Chymistry, and Medicine #251484

Tis, certainly, a great convenience in this latter manner of writing, that the reader need not be tired with tedious repetitions of what others have faid; and that the author, being at liberty to break off when he pleafes, is not obliged to endeavour to teach what he does not unden i'cand; or to write of any fubjeét, unlefs he can do it well. And if foch effays be, as they ought, but competently ltock'd with experiments, 'tis the reader's own fault if he does not improve by them 5b. When an author acquaints me only with his own thoughts, or conjeflzures, if he mii'takes in his reafoning, I am in fome danger of erring with him; at leal't, Imay lofe all the time and pains Ibefiow upon him: but ifa writer endeavours, by enriching his difcourfe with new and real obferva tions or experiments, to credit his dottrine; let his private opinion be ever fo erroneous, yet his experiments being true, Imay make my own ufe' of them; and even plead them againi't his Opinion: lo that fuch a writer will certainly teach me ufeful truths, and cannot eafily lead me into error. From hence, then, appears the great ufefulnefs of experimental oll'avs in general.