OF CURIOSITY. r/i 



have no notion that thcfe can be of any man- 

 ner of ufe but to thofe amongit whom they 

 are found. To the end therefore that we may 

 gain a clearer conception of the harmony, and 

 ufe of thefe things, it will be necefTary to run 

 thro* fome of the moft obvious particulars, re- 

 lative to this fubjedl, that every one from 

 hence may better comprehend the advantage 

 of natural hiflory in general. 



§. 5. 



The antients v/ere of opinion, that the bo« 

 dies about us concerned us no farther than as 

 they were good for focd or phyftc. Hence 

 their inquiries all tended to find out what were 

 fit to eat, and what would cure fome dillem- 

 per, and whatever plant or animal could not 

 be referred to one of thefe clafTes was negled- 

 ed ^. It is true that the immedia.te ufe of 



many 



'' J muft take the liberty to contradicl the ingenious au* 

 thor on this occafion. For any one who has ever looked 

 into Ariftotle's hillory of animals, and Thcophraftus's of 

 plants, muft at once be convinced of the contrary. This 

 jaftice i thought due to thofe two firfl {ketches of natural 

 hiftory, in which the fagacious, and extenfive genius of the 

 mailer, and the difciplc fully fhine forth. It is true this fpi- 

 rit was not long kept up, nor is it to be wondered at, that 

 extravagant fpecuhtions, and fyllems concerning things out 



Pf 



