48 C H A P T E R 
framed, which conveys any charafter of the 
genus, that might not with equal propriety 
have been applied to a multitude of others. 
The free ufe that Plumier made of this 
privilege, in honouring fo great a number 
of Englifhmen, does equal credit to his own 
difcernment, and impartiality, and to the 
merit of thofe on whom he bellowed this 
laurel. On this account, I hope it may 
not be ungrateful to the reader, to digrefs 
fo far, as to introduce a fliort notice of this 
liberal-minded foreigner. 
PLUMIER. 
Charles Plumier was born at MarfeUks^ 
in the year 1646 ; and, after a claflical edu- 
cation, devoted himafelf to a religious life ; 
and, at the age of fixteen, entered into the 
order of the Minime Friars. Being early 
inclined to mechanics and philofophy, he 
ftudied mathematics, at Touloufe^ under 
Fere Maignan, a celebrated profelTor of the 
fcience, and of the fam.e order. In fome 
of his leifiare hours, he amufed himfelf in. 
the practice of Turning, having been taught 
theart by his father; and became fo great" 
a proficient. 
