The 'Nfltural Uifiory 



this refpeft. A tranfient and perfun- 

 ftory Examination of things, frequent- 

 ly leads Men into confiderabld Mi- 

 liakes, which a more correft and ri- 

 gorous Scrutiny would have deteded 

 and avoided. The truth is, I have 

 been the more fcrupulous and wary in 

 regard the Inferences drawn from thefe 

 Obfervations are of fbme importance : 

 'twas but necefl'ary that the Foundation 

 ftiould be firm, when a Superfl:ruQ:ure 

 of Bulk and Weight was to be railed 

 upon it. And therefore I advance no- 

 thing from any Obfervation that was 

 not made with this Caution, and that 

 any Man may not, as well as rhy lelf, 

 without any great pains, inform him- 

 fe!f of the truth of : And as long as the 

 next Cole-pit, or Mine, the next Quar- 

 ry, or Chalk-pit, will give abundant 

 Atteflation to what I write, thtfe are 

 io ready and obvious in almoft all pla- 

 ces, that I need not be any where far 

 to leek for a Compurgator ; and to 

 thefe I may very fafely appeal. 



CoDGerning the Obfervations them- 

 felves therefore, there cannot well arife 

 any doubt but what may be eafily fatif- 

 fied : And what I propofe in this ElTay 

 being founded upon thefe Obfervati- 



