FREFAOE 



The present volume, which is designed to take a systematic, 

 but popular, survey of the most interesting features of the gene- 

 ral SCIENCE OF NATURE, for the purposc of elucidating what has 

 been found obscure, controverting and correcting what has been 

 felt erroneous, and developing, by new and original views and 

 hypotheses, much of what yet remains to be more satisfactorily 

 explained, derives its origin from the following circumstances : 



Towards the close of the year 1810 the author had the honour 

 of receiving a visit from a deputation of the Directors of the 

 Surrey Institution, founded on what had been antecedently 

 the Leverian Museum, with a request on the part of their 

 chairman. Dr. Adam Clarke, that he would undertake a depart- 

 ment of lectures in that literary and scientific establishment ; with 

 the generous offer of leaving to himself a nomination of time, 

 terms, and subject. He regretted his inability of acceding to so 

 kind a request at that particular period ; but being a little more 

 at liberty not long afterwards, he readily consented, on a second 

 application by Dr. Lettsom and other Directors ; and the ensuing 

 volume contains the course of study he ventured to make choice 

 of ; the lectures having been divided into series, and delivered in 

 successive years. 



It was his intention to have carried the plan to a somewhat 

 more protracted extent, though the present is sufficiently com- 

 plete for the outline laid down : but, though earnestly and re- 

 peatedly pressed to proceed further, or even to go over the same 

 lectures again, an augmented sphere of professional duties com- 

 pelled him, with much reluctance, to decline the invitation ; and 

 the same cause has prevented him, till the present period, from 

 fulfilling a subsequent request to submit them to the public ; 

 though he has always intended to do so as soon as he could find 

 leisure. 



