PREFACE 



TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



THE following Lectures, intended as a commencement 

 of discourses on several branches of natural history and the 

 sciences, have been published for those kind friends of 

 both sexes, who, having done the author the honour of being 

 present at their delivery, may be desirous of refreshing their 

 memories by a printed recapitulation; and for the perusal 

 of such general readers, as may take an interest in the 

 subjects, upon which he has proposed to treat. 



To the man of science, he has little new to offer. The latter will 

 be fully aware that most of the knowledge we at present poss- 

 ess, must be derived from the collective information of those 

 who have published before us ; and that where the more strik- 

 ing features of any particular science only, are to be detailed, 

 however the language may, by different writers he varied, the 

 matter to be correct, ought in most instances lo be the same. 

 He therefore will readily discriminate between what por- 

 tion of the following work is derived from other sources, what 

 share of it the author can honestly claim for himself; and 

 upon a fiat so obtained, he will rest satisfied. 



The author here feels it incumbent on him to mention, that 



