Papoks be Fe Celk: 
Thus the great Boerhaave, depending upon the Information of others, 
hath been induced to believe the Barbados Green Tar (an evident bitu- 
minous Foffil) to be an Exfudation from a Vegetable. 
No Faults, therefore, of this Kind, are, juftly fpeaking, proper Ob- 
je€ts of Cenfure, but thofe which Men wilfully commit, and, by pre= 
tended ufeful Difcoveries, impofe upon the Public: Thefe, like falfe 
Lights, or erroneous Land-marks, are of an heinous Nature ; rife into 
Crimes ; and become gradually of a deeper Dye, as their Impofitions 
upon Mankind are more or lefs of ill Confequence, 
Nor are thofe Men excufable, who (tho’ in Things indifferent) love to 
dwell upon the Marvelous; and either furprifingly aggrandize or dimi- 
nifh the Subjeéts they treat of, juft as it beft fuits with their Fancy. Here 
the Vanity of being thought fuperior to thofe who went before them, as 
well as more learned than their Neighbours, hath a great Share. But the 
thort-lived Portion of all fuch, isa flafhy temporary Glare of Applaufe ; 
which, like Lightning, whilft it fhines, deftroys. In purfuing Fame, 
they fly from Veracity, its beft and fureft Pillar; and, without which, 
no Charaéter can be truly valuable. 
How far I have myfelf obferved thefe Rules, and avoided thefe Faults, 
muft be left to the Public to determine ; as well as with what Succefs I 
have, upon the Whole, through untrodden Paths, purfued my Subjeét. 
And, as this, in its different Branches, required Variety of Reading, as 
well as Talents peculiarly adapted to each, the learned and candid Reader 
will look upon any little Inaccuracy as almoft unavoidable, and there- 
fore excufable. 
This I can with Truth fay, that I have not reprefented one fingle 
Fact, which I did not either fee myfelf, or had from Perfons of known 
Veracity. And, as to the Arguments offered to fupport any {pecula- 
tive Part of the Work, thefe muft ftand or fall by their own intrinfic 
Worth. 
AR GIEID 
Vil 
