TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
THOMAS, LORD ERSKINE, 
BARON ERSKINE OF RESTORMEL CASTLE, IN THE COUNTY OF CORNWALL, 
LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR OF GREAT BRITAIN, 
8fc, SfC. fyc, 
MY LORD, 
THOU GH a Dedication is in general ail expression 
of gratitude from an Author to his Patron, or of friendship from one 
literary character to another, yet I cannot but be of opinion, that there 
should be some accord between the character of the Work and that of 
the Patron to whom it is presented. 
In this point of view the world will see the propriety of a Work which 
professes to treat of the Sciences and the Arts in general, being inscribed 
to a Nobleman who unites in himself more various, as well as more 
splendid talents, more general knowledge, and more diversified taste, than 
any other public character of the present age ; who, deservedly filling the 
chair of Bacon, possesses the same excursive and expanded genius ; but 
whose public duties, being more onerous than they were in the time of 
that great man, alone preclude him from gratifying and enlightening the 
Public by researches out of the line of his profession* 
VOL. I. 
a 
