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God are not prefumptuous) is, that he would re- 

 move from me all defire of purfuing Natural 

 Hiilory, or any other iludy, and infpire me with 

 as much knowledge of his Divine Nature as my 

 imperfe6t ftate is capable of ; that I may con- 

 duct myfelf, for the remainder of my days, in a 

 manner the moil agreeable to his will, v/hich mufl 

 confequently be mofc happy to myfelf. What 

 my condition may be in futurity is known only 

 to the Wife Difpofer of all things : yet my pre- 

 fent defires are (perhaps vain and inconfiilent 



property of Mr. Rob son : and that my labours may be handed down 

 to potterity with integrity, truth, and exaftnefs, I have delivered into 

 his hands a complete fet of the plates, highly coloured by myfelf, as a 

 flandard to thofe artifts who may be employed in colouring them for 

 the future. 



As the remainder of my life will be chiefly fpent in retirement, I 

 beg leave to return my moft grateful acknowledgments to the nobility, 

 gentry, and public in general, for all their favours, and generous fup- 

 port, during the tedious period of all my publications ; and am with 

 the greateft truth and refpeft. 



Their faithful and obliged 



Humble fervant, 



Geo, Edwards, 



f-l-t The public may always depend upon having of Mr, Rob- 

 soN, Mr. Edwards's Natural Hiftory, 7 vols quarto, carefully coloured, 

 at the ufual price of fourteen guineas half bound, or at a proportionable 

 price in any elegant binding. 



with 



