2 INTRODUCTION. 



All good philofophy being founded on facls, I have thought pro- 

 per to give a hiftory of Man, through the various ftages of his pro- 

 grcffion, from the Vegetable upwards to his Intelledual State. As it 

 is Intelled that forms what is properly called Man, and conftitutes 

 him a focial and political animal, 1 have enlarged much upon 

 that ftate, and marked the feveral gradations, from the mere ani- 

 mal up to the moft perfect ftate of fociety, and downwards to the 

 moft corrupt and worthlefs, which clofes, according to my appre- 

 hcnfion, this fcene of Man. 



A N T I E N T 



