PROPOSITIONS For the carrying on A Philosophical Correspondence, Already begun in the County of somerset, Upon encouragement given from the Royal Society.  

I. THat the Correspondents carefully inquire into all the Rarities of Nature that may be in, or near the places of their respective Residences; such as the more extraordinary Phaenomena of Minerals, Plants, Animals, Waters, &c. and whatsoever else may serve to promote, and enlarge the History of Nature: which their Observations they shall be ready to impart to the Persons, and in the manner hereafter to be mentioned.  
II. That they make what Moral Observations they can, for the better assisting each other in the knowledge of human Nature, &c.  
III. That if any of the Correspondents shall have any particular Hypotheseis about the Phaenomena of Nature, Providence, or Morality, he be ready to impart such of them, as he thinks fit, to be considered by such others of the Company, as shall have a mind to engage their thoughts in those matters.  
IV. That if any Correspondent, or his Friend desire the thoughts of any others of the Correspondence upon any Notion of Philosophy, &c. Those others shall be ready to gratify him in his request; And if any of the Company shall be desirous of the Opinion of learned men in London, or either University, in any matters of inquiry, endeavours shall be used to procure it for him.  
V. And if any of the Correspondents who studies the Universal Character of the Learned Dr. Wilkins,( now Lord Bishop of Chester) shall have any Objections or doubts about it; or else have any thing to suggest for the facilitating, or promoting the learning or spreading of it; he shall impart the same to the Secretary of the Correspondence after to be mentioned: who will endeavour to procure an Answer to such Doubts, or to spread any such Communications, as may tend to the advantage of that noble Design.  
VI. That in this Correspondence none of us shall presume to determine any thing in Speculative matters, or Controversies of Religion, dogmatically; but that every one propose his Conceptions modestly in the way of Queries and Hypotheseis, for the preventing and excluding all wrangling disputes.  
VII. That the Company be r●ady to pay all respects to the Royal Society, and to serve them with what intelligence we can procure in the Country towards the promoting their generous designs,  
VIII. That the persons to be admitted into this Correspondence be only such as are sober, modest, and of good inclination to the promotion of useful knowledge.  
IX. That all the Members of this Company endeavour to bring into the Correspondence, as many persons so qualified, as they shall find inclinable to this design.  
X. That there be a Secretary through whose hands all inquiries, and Informations shall pass from one, or more of the Correspondents to the rest, and that Mr. Glanvill Rector of Bath be that Secretary.  
XI. That the Secretary be allowed an Amanuensis for the transcribing of so many Copies of informations to be imparted, as shall serve for so many Correspondents as may conveniently spread them among the Company.  
XII. That the Secretary set up a Foot-post to go weekly from Bath, the Place of Intelligence, to Bristol, the Centre of Conveyance, for the receiving, and sending of Letters, which are to be directed to Mr. Tim. Parker upon the Bridge in Bristol, who will receive and transmit them.  
XIII. That the Correspondents, who live near one another, agree upon one convenient place in their Neighbourhood to which Letters are to be directed for them; and that they acquaint the Secretary with the place so agreed on.  
XIV. That every Correspondent allow Half a Crown a Quarter towards the defraying the charges of the Correspondence.  
XV. That every Correspondent pay in this money Quarterly to the person that engaged him, which he is to return to Mr. Charles Thirlby of Wells, who will receive it, and clear the accounts of the Secretary, which are to remain in the said M. Thirlby's hands for any of the Correspondents to see, that desires it.  
XVI. That the Secretary of the Correspondence hold Intelligence with the Secretary of the Royal Society.  
XVII. That the Secretary procure for as many of the Correspondents, as shall desire them, the Philosophical Transactions Monthly, and the Mercurius Librarius; as also such other Books as they shall writ to him to get from London. Or if any of them shall desire any of the Philosophical Instruments, as Telescopes, Microscopes, Barometers, &c. care shall be taken for the getting the best sort of them at the cheapest rate.  
XVIII That the Company have a particular Stationer, and that Mr. James Collins at the King's-head in Westminster Hall be the Person.  
XIX. That the Names of all the Correspondents which any one of the persons already engaged shall procure, with their respective places of abode, be returned to the Secretary; and that upon their Names being entred in the Secretaries Book they shall be reputed as Members of the Company.    

Of Education.  
To Master Samuel Hartlib.  By John Milton. 
Master Hartlib,  
I Am long since persuaded, that to say, ot do ought worth memory, and imitation, no purpose or respect should sooner move us, then simply the love of God, and of mankind. nevertheless to writ now the reforming of Education, though it be one of the greatest and noblest designs, that can be thought on, and for the want whereof this nation perishes, I had not yet at this time been induc't, but by your earnest entreaties, and serious conjurements; as having my mind for the present half diverted in the pursuance of some other assertions, the knowledge and the use of which, cannot but be a great furtherance both to the enlargement of truth, and honest living, with much more peace. Nor should the laws of any private friendship have prevailed with me to divide thus, or transpose my former thoughts, but that I see those aims, those actions which have won you with me the esteem of a person sent hither by some good providence from a far country to be the occasion and the incitement of great good to this island. And, as I hear, you have obtained the same repute with men of most approved wisdom, and some of highest authority among us. Not to mention the learned correspondence which you hold in foreign parts, and the extraordinary pains and diligence which you have used in this matter both heer, and beyond the Seas; either by the definite will of God so rusing, or the peculiar sway of nature, which also is Gods working. Neither can I think that so reputed, and so valn'd as you are, you would to the forfeit of your own discerning ability▪ impose upon me an unfit and over ponderous argument, but that the satisfaction which you profess to have received from those incidentall discourses which we have wandered into, hath prest& almost constrained you into a persuasion, that what you require from me in this point, I neither ought, nor can in conscience defer beyond this time both of so much need at once, and so much opportunity to try what God hath determined. I will not resist therefore, what ever it is either of divine, or human obligement that you lay upon me; but will forthwith set down in writing, as you request me, that voluntary Idea, which hath long in silence presented itself to me, of a better Education, in extent and comprehension far more large, and yet of time far shorter, and of attaimment far more certain, then hath been yet in practise. brief I shall endeavour to be for that which I have to say, assuredly this nation hath extreme need should be done sooner then spok'n. To tell you therefore what I have benefited herein among old renowned Authors, I shall spare; and to search what many modern Ianua's and Didactics more then ever I shall red, have projected, my inclination leads me not. But if you can accept of these few observations which have flowered off, and are as it were the burnishing of many studious and contemplative yeers altogether spent in the search of religious and civil knowledge, and such as pleased you so well in the relating, I here give you them to dispose of.