GROUNDS
OF
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY
DIVIDED INTO
THIRTEEN PARTS
WITH AN
APPENDIX
CONTAINING
FIVE PARTS
The Second Edition, much altered from the First,
which went under the Name of
PHILOSOPHICAL
AND
PHYSICAL OPINIONS
Written by the
Thrice Noble, Illustrious, and Excellent Princess,
THE
DUCHESS of NEWCASTLE
LONDON,
Printed by A. Maxwell, in the Year 1668.
To all the UNIVERSITIES IN EUROPE.
Most Learned Societies,
All Books, without exception, being undoubtedly under yourIurisdiction, it is very strange that some Authors of good note, arenot asham'd to repine at it; and the more forward they are in judgingothers, the less liberty they will allow to be judg'd themselves. But,if there was not a necessity, yet I would make it my choice, To submit,willingly, to your Censures, these Grounds of Natural Philosophy,in hopes that you will not condemn them, because they want Art, ifthey be found fraught with Sense and Reason. You are the Starrs ofthe First Magnitude, whose Influence governs the World of Learning;and it is my confidence, That you will be propitious to the Birth ofthis beloved Child of my Brain, whom I take the boldness to recommendto your Patronage; and as, if you vouchsafe to look on it favourably,I shall be extreamly obliged to your Goodness, for its everlastingLife: So, if you resolve to Frown upon it, I beg the favour, That itbe not buried in the hard and Rocky Grave of your Displeasure; butbe suffer'd, by your gentle silence, to lye still in the soft andeasie Bed of Oblivion, which is incomparably the less Punishment ofthe Two. It is so commonly the error of indulgent Parents, to spoiltheir Children out of Fondness, that I may be forgiven for spoilingThis, in never putting it to suck at the Breast of some Learned Nurse,whom I might have got from among your Students, to have assisted me;but would, obstinately, suckle it my self, and bring it up alone,without the help of any Scholar: Which having caused in the FirstEdition, (which was published under the name of Philosophical andPhysical Opinions) many Imperfections; I have endeavoured in thisSecond, by many Alterations and Additions, (which have forc'd me togive it another Name) to correct them; whereby, I fear, my Faults arerather changed and encreased, than amended. If you expect fairProportions in the Parts, and a Beautiful Symmetry in the Whole, havingnever been taught at all, and having read but little; I acknowledg myself too illiterate to afford it, and too impatient to labour much forMethod.
But, if you will be contented with pure Wit, and the Effects of meerContemplation; I hope, that somewhat of that kind may be found in thisBook, and in my other Philosophical, Poetical, and Oratorical Works:All which I leave, and this especially, to your kind Protection, andam,
Your most humble Servant, and Admirer,
MARGARET NEWCASTLE.