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PREFACE of the TRANSLATORS. 



/ I ^HE future improvements in Agriculture, In 

 Jl^ Mebicine, and in nvany inferior Arts, as 

 dymg, tanning, varnifbing; with many of the more 

 important Manufadtures, as of paper, linen, cordage; 

 mud principally arife from the knowledge of BO- 

 TANY. ,For how can we afcertain the more recon- 

 dite properties of bodies, without firft being able to 

 diiiinguiih them from each other ? From the want 

 of this fcience almoft all the medicines, and many of 

 the arts of the ancients have been loft to their def- 

 cendants. 



The labours of LINNEUS are generally acknow-* 

 ledged to have heft fupplied this great fource of future 

 improvement, and yet his works have not hitherto ap-. 

 peared in the englifli language. Mr. Lee indeed in 

 his IntroduBion to Botany has .well tranilated and 

 explained many parts of the Philofophia Botanica ; 

 Dr. Berkenhout has eiven a Lexicon of Terms ex- 

 tradlied from the fame work; and Mr. Milne has 

 difpofed a great part of it with other botanical know- 

 ledge in the form of a Dicfiojtary. All thefe labours- 

 have their merit ; but why fhould not the works 

 themfelves be tranflated into our language? the con- 

 cife and beautiful arrangement, for which they are fo 

 remarkable, is loft in thefe diffufe explanations of them. 



Dr. 



