Dr. Suitn’s Introductory Difcourfe. 47 
be ranked among the moft able promoters of the fcience which he 
cultivated. 
I have before mentioned that the botanical fyftem of Linnæus 
was not readily received in France. Still lefs regard was paid there 
to his zoological works; and this is principally to be attributed to 
the fuccefs of his great opponent the Count de Buffon, whofe 
fplendid publications and captivating ftyle of writing, fo well calcu- 
lated to dazzle the multitude and to charm the people among whom 
he lived, engroffed all the attention of his countrymen, and have 
been admired throughout Europe. Indeed thofe who are leaft 
partial to this celebrated writer muft allow that he has contributed 
much to eneourage and promote the ftudy of nature, has made 
many valuable obfervations, and collected a variety of interefting 
facts, We muft remember however that the facts of fo theoretical 
a writer are always to be received with caution: not that I would 
fufpect any philofopher of wilful mifreprefentations, but a prudent 
theorift will fcarcely truft his own eyes; and the world are pretty 
well agreed that the hypothefes of Buffon are, for the moft part, 
the very effence of futility; though feveral have laughed at them, 
few have taken the pains to sé fuite: them. 
The French have long poffeffed a more fyftematic writer in 
Briffon, whofe Regne Animal has great merit, and whofe excellent 
and elaborate hiftory of birds, none who puríue that part of 
zoology can be without. 
England too has produced a genius, at leaft equal to the lattes in 
Mr. Pennant, who has almoft exhaufted the three firft clafies of the 
zoology of Great Britain, and whofe name and works are too cele- 
- brated to need my commendation here. 
Before I return to Linnæus 1 muft mention the illuftrious Mr. 
Bonnet of Geneva, an enthufiaftic admirer of the works of nature, 
whofe candour and ingenuity cannot but obtain our efteem, whether 
we. 
