102 PREFACE TO 



ready done what lie could. Every motive by which men could 

 be encouraged to lay prejudices aside, and refrain from prema- 

 ture generalisations, and apply themselves to the sincere study 

 of Nature, had already been laid before them. It remained 

 to be seen whether his exhortations would bring other labourers 

 into the field ; but in the mean time the question lay between 

 the completion of the Novum Organum, which was not indis- 

 pensable, and the commencement of the collection of a Natural 

 History, which was ; and when he found that other labourers 

 did not come forward to help, he naturally applied himself to the 

 latter.] 



