The History Chap. i. 



Gent for their Proficiency in other Parts of 

 Learning and Bufinefs, are or ought to be 

 read ^^h a peculiar Delight, 



in the ^rfl weiiKet with great El^^^njples, 

 xv'hich 'tis poffible but for few to reach ^ and 

 Schemes of Government, which Perfons of a 

 lower Sphere may never be likely to have 

 any Share in ^ whereas in this there is a ge- 

 neral Eaitertainment to every bufy and intel- 

 ligent^ Perfon 5 and an Imitation of the Pra- 

 dices of thofe great Virtuofo's, is in fome 

 meafure or other in the Power of every Rank 

 or Degree of Mankind: In their Writings 

 wje re^d the intricate and amazing Laws of 

 Eterii^ Providence prefiding over thefe fub- 

 lunary Regions, far more entertaining than 

 air tlie VoTumes* of Ze?io the Law-giver, or 

 Plutarch the Hiftorian. 



So that the Hifbry as well as the Practice 

 of Gardening mayiiot be an uriwefeoffi^ 

 Subjed^ and we are afTured the RvmanJi, 

 (whcfe Judgment thefe modern Ages are de-'* 

 fervedly fond of copying) had as great a va-^ 

 luefor the Memoirs of Men of Wit, Lite-i 

 rature, or any other private Accomplifli- 

 ments, as they had for the greatefl: Politici- 

 ans and Captains. 



Phrj, no doubt, made as great a Figure in 

 the Quality of a Philofopher, and Gard'ner, 

 as he did at the Head of the Roman Legions 5 

 and the Natural Hijlory he has left, is of as 

 much Value as that of all the Germainck 

 Wars. 



'Tis 



