THE 



EDITOR'S PHEFACE 



TO THE FIRST EDITION, 



It may iappear a matter of singularity that a person of my profession 

 should engage in a work which, it must be confessed, has but a small 

 alliance with Medicine. But I wish to have it known, that, during the 

 whole time this edition was under my hands, I considered it only as 

 affording amusement, and relaxation from studies of a severer kind. To 

 liberal minds this will be a sufficient apology : To persons of a different 

 turn I have nothing to observe. Tacitus says, Adutilitatem vitce omnia 

 facta consiliaque nostra sunt dirigenda : and I could produce proofs of 



the highest authority to confirm this excellent sentiment ; -but an age 



eager in pursuit of natural knowledge needs no incitements. 



The expense attending this work would have deterred me from the 

 prosecution of it almost as soon as begun, had it not been for a most 

 distinguished Patronage, under whose recommendation the Subscription 

 filled beyond my most sanguine expectations. 



Since the first edition of the SUva, in 1664, many improvements have 

 been made in planting, and in every branch of natural knowledge. It, 

 therefore, became my indispensable duty to bring down the improvements 

 to the present time. These make the subject of the Notes, which are 

 drawn from the most respectable authorities. I assume no merit beyond 

 the arrangement of the materials, having in all places preserved the 

 Author's own words, excepting in cases where the sense was obscured by 

 an impropriety of expression. To join the language of so n^any different 



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