VIH PREFACE. 



the best judges in their own and other countries. 

 These are circumstances that distinguish, in a very 

 singular degree, the following M'ork ; circumstances 

 that, no doubt, will have their proper weight, and 

 which it would be entirely needless for us to enforce, 

 ifhough it would have been inexcusable not to have 

 mentioned them. 



There is however one other circumstance thatde- 

 serv'es particular notice, which is, that, with respect to 

 the characters and abilities of these gentlemen, all does 

 not rest either uj)on their writings or foreign autho- 

 rities : they have been in this country ; were seen and 

 known by those who were best able to judge of their 

 merit ; and, in consequence of that, are both of them 

 members of our royal society. They continued here 

 some time, conversed indifferently with all sorts of 

 people, and were unanimously allowed to have very 

 extensive views in respect to science ; great sagacity ; 

 much application ; were very assiduous and very accu- 

 rate in their enquiries, as well as candid and commu- 

 nicative in relation to thediscoveriesand observations 

 which they had made in their travels. — Men of such ta- 

 lents, and such dispositions, must render themselves 

 agreeable every where; much more in a country of li- 

 berty,and where, without partiality, we miay have leave 

 to say, the sciences are as deeply rooted, and flourish 

 in as high a degree, as in any other in Europe. We 

 will add, that, from a knowledge of their merit and 

 candour, they not only received the greatest civilities, 

 but the most seasonable protection, to which, in some 

 measure, the world is indebted for this very-perform- 

 ance, as the reader will learn in the perusal of it; ac- 

 companied with those marks of gratitude and respect, 

 which were due to their kind benefactors; more espe- 

 cially the late worthy president of the royal society, 

 whose memory is justly dear toalhvho had the honour 



of 



