PREFACE. vii 



more patience and time than are likely to 

 fall to the fliare of the generality of the 

 world. My defign therefore is not to ex- 

 hort people indifcriminately to ftudy his 

 works ; but, as i obferved before, to give 

 them fome idea how ufefuU his purfuits arc 

 likely to become in many refpefts. There 

 will appear, i imagine, fuch great and ex- 

 tenfive views in relation to hulbandry, phy- 

 fic, and the general crconomy of human life 

 in the few fpecimens i have given, that in 

 this age and nation, where every art and 

 fcience, that can be of any ufe to the public, 

 are fure to meet with generous encouragers, 

 there will be found many who will readily 

 promote any rational endeavour to pufli 

 thefe difcoveries farther, or put in pradice 

 fuch hints, as may feem to bear a probable 

 appearance of fuccefs. 



I can fcarcely condemn mankind for 

 treating with contempt a vertuofo whom 

 they fee employed in poring over a mofs or 

 an infcift day after day, and fpending his 

 life in fuch fcemingly unimportant and bar- 

 ren fpeculations. The firft and moft natu-r 

 A 4 ral 



