(555 ) 
eharaifers of ^^ankhd under feveral peferiftmSy m mmy Nations 
antient and modern: If I m^y now have leave to clear my prefent fenfe 
freely by inflances^ I humbly conceive , that we may fee more of the na- 
ture of the Places in the learned Defcriptions of many parts of Ame- 
rica, and of fome Count reys remote ^and thinly inhabited in the North ^ 
than in the Geography of our mojl richly cultivated and polite Neigh- 
bourhoodofYtdXiQt, leafy, Spain, Germany, &c. (^excepting always the 
culture i improvement , and artificial ornaments of tbofe laji narnd pla* 
cesi) where yet there is no fmall number of able and curious Natura* 
lifts ^ and who have advanced far in defcribing many of the moft confi- 
derable parts and produHions of Nature; but have not hitherto reduced 
the who ted;^ unmix' d procefs of Nature into a compleat body, either an- 
fwerable to cur modern pr^grefs in difcovering other Fhyfiological Vhx- 
nomena, or to the inflruci ions for fuch a Natural Hijlory of Count reys^ 
as was timely given in Numb, ii, of thefe Tracts, Neither have we 
yet received fat is factory anfwers to fome of the Inquiries publfbt in &ur 
foregoing Volumes ^which were intended to folicit a confirmation Qafter a 
fever e examen) of fuch particulars as might feem to m grange Jbut were 
reported by Authors of good note. 
In purfuitof this defgnfor England, a Learn' d Do^&r hath laid a ^ 
good foundation in his Pmax , abbreviated Num. 20. Another worthy 
£erfon hath well examin'd^what Vegetables are native here or w the 
I/lands about us^and recorded where they n)ay be found. Several accompts 
are taken of the Mineral or Healing-Fountains of note amon^fl usy and 
more of late difcover' d than formerly obfervd. And ofM\ms there nre 
good Authors abroad. Jlnd from Coxw'^dX we are told of the Shelf or 
Fa ft- grounds, which they conceive to have never been movH , how it 
differs from the moveable or mov'^d parts of Earthy Numb. 69. And it - 
were to be wijhed^that in all Mines and where ever deep wells are dig'* 
ged^ notice were taken^ in what order the feveral kinds of Earthy loam^ 
fand^ gravely C^c. do lye. For Infefts, fome have out^gone (by parcels^ 
the accuratnefs of lAuffcz^ and former Juthx>rs. And for Fifhes thap 
may be found in our Lakes and Rivers^we fee a fuller catalogue than we 
could expeSf^inthe /\.th?dLrt of Gentleman's Recreation. Jndi^ 
MufFet's Healths Improvement, we have an elder Itfi of the fame^ and 
of fuch Fijh as may be taken in our € reeks and Seas^ and how both forts 
may be befi ordered for our Englifii diet. And the obfervations on the 
Bills of Births and Mortality are of manifold ufe in relation to life^ 
and health, and our Epidemical infirmities , and alfo to our Politicals. 
And 
