322 INTRODUCTION. 



would be extreemly curious to all lovers of natural 

 hiftory •, and tend to clear up many paflages in 

 thofe authors, who firft opened that branch of 

 knowledge, as well as carried fome parts of it 

 much farther, than is generally known, or at leaft 

 acknowledged •, and from whofe writings much 

 more benefit might ftill be reaped, were they 

 better underilood, efpecially in the medicinal way. 

 As the Englilh nation will have the honour of 

 firft making known to the world the true and 

 accurate proportions of the ancient Greek archi- 

 tenure, fo i hope it is referved for us to bring the 

 reft of Europe thoroughly acquainted with the na- 

 ture of the foil, climate, productions, animals, 

 &c. of a countr}^ whofe ancient glory fo much 

 refembles our own, and in a great meafure has 

 been the caufe of it, by furnilliing us with the 

 beft models of good fenfe, tafte, and juft fentiments 

 in every branch of human knowledge. We there- 

 fore ought in a particular manner to look upon 

 Attica, from whence, as Cicero fays, Humanitas^ 

 do5irina^ fruges^ jura^ leges ort^^ atqiie in omnes 

 terras difirihuta putantur^ with the veneration due 

 to a mother country. Should fuch a fceme take 

 place, i could name a perfon, perfedbly well qua- 

 lified, by his youth and abilities, and zealoufly in- 

 clined upon proper encouragement, to be one of' 

 the party. France,, Sweden*, and RulTia have 

 fet us examples of this kind, and why this great 

 and Piourlftiing nation ftiould not follow them, i 

 cannot lee. We have had our lliare in advancing 

 natural hiftory, it is true, but hitherto without any- 

 public encouragement. 



* Amongft many inftances of this Ibrr, there is one that deferves 

 particular notice mentioned Amgen. Academ. p. 445. the author fays, 

 that Kiiffelquift vva<; Cent mto ^.^ pt at the expence of his country- 

 inen the Enli: Gothlandcrs, of the heads of tlie iin'iveifrty, and of the 

 Eait India company, lor the ftudy of natural liiftory j and llaid above 

 a ve-ar at Caiio. 



