Hitherto the Academy of Sciences hath consider'd Nature but by parcels: They have fix'd upon no general System, for fear of falling into the inconveniency of hasty Systems, which are very grateful to the impatience of Humane Understanding; and being once settled, are Obstacles to what Truths are afterwards discover'd. This day we are sure of a Fact, to morrow we shall be sure of another that hath no relation with the former. However some Conjectures are ventur'd at upon Causes; but they are only Conjectures. So that this Collection, which the Academy gives to the Publick, is compos'd of separate Fragments, independant of one another; whereof every one who is the Author, warrants the Facts and Experiments; and whose Arguments are approv'd by the Academy, but with Restrictions becoming Wise and Wary Scepticks.
Time perhaps will come, when these scatter'd Fragments shall be united into one regular Body; and if they be such as they are wish'd, they may of themselves Unite. A great many Truths, when their Numbers is considerable, shew so near a Relation to, and so mutual a Dependance upon one another, that it seems, that notwithstanding their violent Separation, they have a natural Tendency to be re-united.