glected by the vulgar as a " dreary void." For 

 my part, although imperious circumstances 

 frequently compelled me to suspend my views, 

 still I bring with me an undecayed sensibility 

 to their attractions, and a determination to per- 

 form my duty with all the assiduity and zeal I 

 am capable of exerting, and merited by your 



encouragement. 



It is not a little to the honor of the present 

 age, that so many gentlemen of liberal fortune 

 and respectable families, declining the slip- 

 pery paths of political ambition, have dedicated 

 much of their time, and not a little of their 

 wealth, to sustain the cause of science and of 

 literature. This observation will undoubtedly, 

 from the association of ideas, recall the names 

 of Walpole, of Pennant, of Jefferson, and of 

 Banks, to your familiar recollection ; — pain- 

 ful recollection, which informs, that the two 

 first are now no more ! 



Of the writers of natural history I only 

 mention the names of those who have endea- 

 voured to make themselves acquainted with the 

 object of our immediate investigation. And 

 yet how imperfect was the information they 

 B 2 



