PREFACE. 



has often been embarraflTing, and occupied much reflexion: 

 We prefume to think that no work of only equal bulk con- 

 tains npiore information of general and familiar uJTe, nor ^^ com- 

 pleter or more compendious manual of natural knowledge : 

 whether its merit be equal to the labour it has coft, or its 

 utility be equal to the wifhes of its author, muft now be 

 fubmitted to the determination of a candid and indulgent 

 public ; from whom, in the courfe of publication, we have 

 received the moll liberal teflimony, and to whom we return 

 our grateful acknowledgments, for numerous inflances of 

 approbation, and numerous marks of kindnefs and conf^, 

 dence. 



