PREFACE 



BY THE 



TRANSLATOR. 



O name is jnore illuftrious in the annals of 

 Chcmiflry than BERGMAN: none has contri- 

 buted more than he, to the rapid advancement 

 which this fciencc lias made in the prcfcnt cen- 

 tury. Nor has any other philofopher applied 

 the principles of Lord JJACON with greater (kill 

 or attention, in the invelligation of nature. 

 Ardent; enthufiafm, and patient afiiduity in the 

 purfuits of fcience, candour, modcfty, clcar- 

 ncfs of judgement, and comprehend r. of inind, 

 qualities the union of \v;*ich conflli ,ues the tiuc 

 pMl-jfopher, appear f> h:;vo r-en hap}>ily con- 

 joined in tins great m,.n. The n\mibcr and 

 the accuracy ot his experiments, the fimpliciry 

 rnd ingenuity of )iis j^roceiles, the beauty and 

 plaufibility of his tlicorics, command the admi- 

 ration and refped of every intelligent reader of 

 his works. 



His writings arc already very generally known 

 through Europe. They have moil of them been 

 tranflatcd into various languages. An Lng- 

 lifh t re filiation of two volumes of liis Effays was, 

 fome years fince, publifhed. They met with 

 the favourable reception which they deferred : 



a ami 



813 



