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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 o f Men.
++++
Your Majesties most humble
+and most obedient
+Subject and Servant,
++
ROBERT HOOKE .
++
+
