Preface. 



xiii 



The conftruction of timber, and the difpofition of it's com- 

 ponent parts, as feen by the microfcope, is the fubjecl of the next 

 chapter; a fubje.ct confefiedly obfcure. With what degree of 

 fuccefs this attempt has been profecuted, muft be left to the 

 iudgment of the reader. The bed treatise on this part of vegeta- 

 tion is that of Mr. Duhamel du Monceaus " fur la Phyfique des 

 Arbres." If either my time, or fituation in life, would have per- 

 mitted it, I mould have followed his plan ; but being confined to 

 bufineis and to London, I can only recommend it to thofe 

 lovers of the works of the Almighty, who live in the country, to 

 purfue this important branch of natural hiftory. There is no 

 doubt but that new views of the operations in nature, and of the 

 wifdom with which all things are contrived, would amply repay 

 the labour of inveftigation. Every part of the vegetable king- 

 dom is rich in microfcopic beauties, from the ftatelieft tree of the 

 foreft, from the cedar of Lebanon, to the lowlieR mofs, and the 

 fryffop that fpringeth out of the wall, all confpiring to fay how 

 much is hid from the natural fight of man, how little can be 

 known till it receives affiftance, and is benefited by adventitious 

 aid. 



From the wonderful' organization of animals, and the curious 

 texture of vegetables, we proceed to the mineral kingdom, and 

 take a curfory view of the configuration of falts and faline fub- 

 ftances, exhibiting a few fpecimens of the beautiful order in 

 which they arrange themfelves under the eye, after having been 

 feparated by diffolution : every fpecies working as it were upon 

 ■a different plan, and producing cubes, pyramids, hexagons, or 



fomgj 



