glected by the vulgar as a " dreary void." For 

 my part, although imperious circumstances 

 frequently compelled me to suspend my views, 

 still I bring with me an undecayed sensibility 

 to their attractions, and a determination to per- 

 form my duty with all the assiduity and zeal I 

 am capable of exerting, and merited by your 

 encouragement. 



It is not a little to the honor of the present 

 age, that so many gentlemen of liberal fortune 

 and respectable families, declining the slip- 

 pery paths of political ambition, have dedicated 

 much of their time, and not a little of their 

 wealth, to sustain the cause of science and of 

 literature. This observation will undoubtedly'^ 

 from the association of ideas, recall the names 

 of Walpole, of Pennant, of Jefferson, and of 

 Banks, to your familiar recollection ; — pain- 

 ful recollection, which informs, that the two 

 first are now no more I 



Of the writers of natural history I only 

 mention the names of those who have endea- 

 voured to make themselves acquainted with the 

 object of our immediate investigation. And 

 yet how imperfect was the information they 

 B 2 



