STUDIES 



OF 



NATURE. 



STUDY FIRST. 



IMMENSITY OF NATURE: PLAN OF MY WORK. 



SOME years have elapfed, fince I formed the 

 defign of compofing a general Hiftory of 

 Nature, in imitation of Arijlotky Pliny, Chancellor 

 Bacon, and feveral illuftrious modern Authors. The 

 field appeared to me fo vaft, that I could not be- 

 lieve the poffibility of it*s being entirely pre-occu- 

 pied. Belides, Nature invites to the cultivation of 

 herfelf, perfons of every age and country ; and if (he 

 promifes the golden harveft of difcovery, only to 

 men of genius, flie referves fome gleanings, at 

 lead, for the fimple and unlearned ; for fuch, efpe- 

 cially, as, like myfelf, are making a paufe every 

 ftep they advance, tranfported at the beauty of her 

 divine produdions. 



I was farther prompted to the execution of my 



great defign, in the view of rendering an cijcept- 



voL. I. B able 



