PREFACE, 



INCLUDING A 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 



fAIUS PLINIUS SECUNDUS, usually 

 called the Elder, to distinguish him from 

 his nephew of the same name, who was 

 equally eminent in letters, but in a dif- 

 ferent field, was born of an illustrious 

 family of Verona, in the 23rd year of the Christian era. 

 According to the custom of Roman youths, he 

 served in the army, where he was honoured with the 

 regards of Titus, son of Vespasian, and afterwards 

 emperor, to whom he dedicated his great work on the 

 " History of Nature." 



To one of his inclinations and tastes, the military 

 career was probably little suited ; yet every Roman 

 was called on to enter it, whatever department of the 

 public service he might afterwards occupy. With the 

 army in Germany he acquired distinction. On his 

 return to Rome he was enrolled in the College of 

 Augurs a post which favoured his philosophic in- 



