11 PREFACE. 



It will scarcely be denied that benefit 

 arises to society from the \3.udab\e fashion, 

 may I be permitted to call it, of esteeming 

 an acquaintance with the admirable stores 

 of Nature^ almost an essential part of po- 

 lite education. Few would choose to be 

 utterly deficient in information, with re- 

 gard to the higher properties and syste- 

 matic arrangements of a science^ the rudi- 

 ments of which are now imparted to chil- 

 dren with their alphabet; and constitute 

 the basis of the earliest instruction which 

 is bestowed on the youthful mind, to pro- 

 mote its expansion, and direct its first ef- 

 forts to objects worthy of its choice. The 

 mind of man cannot but be ameliorated by 

 the acquisition of wisdom in all its forms; 

 and if we admit, as surely we must, that 



