pains to extract the substance of them all, 

 and add the later discoveries, of which 

 they had little knowledge, and therefore 

 could take but little notice. This is a 

 desideratum still, and one that a lover of 

 mankind would rejoice to see even tolera- 

 bly supplied. 



3. I am thoroughly sensible there are 

 many who have far more ability, as well 

 as leisure, for such a work than me ; but 

 as none of them undertake it, I have my- 

 self made some little attempt in the ensu- 

 ing volumes. Herein following Mr. Der- 

 ham's plan, I divide the work into text 

 and notes.* The text is in great measure 

 translated from the Latin work of John 

 Francis Buddceus, the late celebrated pro- 

 fessor of philosophy in the University of 

 Jena, in Germany. But I have found oc- 



* So it was in the first edition. Many of these ace 

 now taken into the text. 



