2 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



able fervice to my fellow creatures, and of meriting 

 their approbation ; particularly that of Louis XVI. 

 my illuftrious benefactor, who, after the example 

 of Titus and Marcus- Anreliiis, devotes bis whole at- 

 tention to the felicity of mankind. 



In Nature herfelf alone we muft expeft to find 

 the laws of Nature; and we plunge into difficulty 

 and diftrefs, only in proportion as we deviate from 

 thefe laws. To ftudy Nature, therefore, is to a6t 

 the part of a good fubjed, and of a friend to hu- 

 manity. 1 have employed, in my refearches, all 

 the powers of reafoning I poffefs ; and, though my 

 means may have been flender, I can fay, with truth, 

 that 1 have not permitted a fingle day to pafs, 

 without picking up fome agreeable, or ufeful, ob- 

 fervation. 



I propofed to begin the compofition of my 

 Work, when I had ceafed from obferving, and 

 when I fhould have colleded all the materials ne- 

 celTary to a Hiftory of Nature; but 1 found my- 

 fclf in the condition of the child, who, with a 

 ftiell, had dug a hole in the fand, to hold the 

 water of the Ocean. 



Nature is of unbounded extent, and I am a hu- 

 man being, limited on every fide. Not only her 

 general Hiftory, but that of the fmalleft plant, far 



tranfcends 



