casion to retrench, enlarge, or alter eveiy 

 chapter, and almost every section , so that 

 it is now, I believe, not only pure, con- 

 taining nothing false or uncertain, but as 

 full as any tract can be expected to be, 

 which is comprised in so narrow a compass; 

 and likewise plain, clear, and intelligible, 

 to one of a tolerable understanding. The 

 notes contain the sum of what is most va- 

 luable in the above-named writers; to 

 which, are added the choicest discoveries 

 both of our own and of the foreign socie- 

 ties. These likewise, I trust, are as plain 



y 



and clear as the nature of the things spoken 

 will allow; although some of them, I know, 

 will not be understood by an unlearned or 

 inattentive reader. 



'4. Mean time I must apprize the reader 

 that I have sometimes a little digressed, 

 by reciting both uncommon appearances of 

 e, and uncommon instances of art : 



