Vlll PREFACE TO THE 



To expect much of novelty in the following pages, 

 would be to expect falfehood and abfurdity. One 

 man, even with the unparalleled powers of a Newton, 

 is able in the courfe of his life to make but few dif- 

 coverics of importance ; and after the toil of centuries, 

 it would be extraordinary if much of what is really 

 true was left to be difcovered. If 1 have liicceeded in 

 placing in a clear and perfpicuous light the obfervations 

 of others ; if I have collected, and arranged in a lucid 

 t>rder, the leading truths in the different branches of 

 philofophy, I have performed a great tafk ; but this I 

 dare not flatter myfelf 1 have been able to accomplifh. 



Imperfect, however, as the work mud, I am con- 

 fident, ftill appear it is yet the labour of fome of the 

 moft valuable years of my life, with the afliftance of 

 fome learned and excellent friends, whofe kindnefs in 

 thefe inftances I (hall have prefently to acknowledge 

 more at large. Let thofe who may be difpofed to 

 complain that more has not been done, only reflect on 

 the difficulty of what has been effected, and I flatter 

 my fell* they will receive with candour an attempt, in 

 which not to have fucceeded would icarcely reflect 

 difgrace on talents fupcrior to mine. 



I have endeavoured to lay open the whole book of 

 nature to my readers. I commence with the fii ft prin- 

 ciples of philofophy, the laws of matter and motion, 

 with an enumeration of the moft fimple or elementary 

 fubftanccs. I proceed from thefe to explain the nature 

 and phenomena of that moft active and fubtile of ele- 

 ir.cnts, heat or fire, which is fo intimately connected with 

 all other fubftances. The theory of light, and colours, fo 

 immediately dependant on the preceding fubject, fuc- 

 cecds; and this is followed by afhort treadle of electricity. 

 The different fpecies of airs, and the atmofpherical 

 phenomena, are next treated of; thefe are fucceeded 

 by a defcription of the earth and mineral kingdom, 

 and the moft remarkable phenomena conncdeu with 

 them, fuck as volcanoes, earthquakes, &c. The na- 

 .ture and compcfkion of water, with a ftiort account of 



miliaal 



