Soon after I had the Honour of an interview with Your Excellency, I observed in the Minutes of the Philosophical Society, that the Order for publishing their Determination of the 21st Inst. respecting Inventions that came nearest to the annual Premium, was express and positive. Meanwhile, some Members mentioned to me, That there would be no time to resume or reconsider that business, at the next Meeting, even supposing such a reconsideration necessary. The election of Officers being all that can on that occasion be attended to. I found myself some what embarrassed, being exceedingly unwilling to seem in the least to deviate from Your Excellency’s Opinion as to deferring the Publication, and at the same time induced to think that, probably, it might be expected that The Forms of the present Year should come within the limits of the Year. Yet, unwilling to trouble your Excellency farther with a matter that could make not much difference how it was done in respect of the time of publishing, I consented to let the account be inserted in one of the Public Papers. In all events I trust, there is no harm done. If there happens to be any defect in the expressions of the Publication, it can be amended, before it goes farther. After what had passed, I could not be satisfied or justified, without offering some Apologetick Explanation. I am, with the highest Respect, Your Excellency’s Obedient Servant