v 3 ; 
ons in the mod Solitary Place. Every thing induces us 
to admire the Infinite Power and Wifdom of the Crea- 
tor : And I dare fay, that it is undoubtedly this Won. 
derfnl Variety, which appears in all his Works, that has 
moft contributed to make the Pagans themfelves acknow- 
ledge a Firft Being to be the Sole Author of the Uni- 
verfe. -• 
Philofophers of all Ages, and efpecially the Mo- 
derns, have look’d on this part of Knowledge as the 
Foundation of Natural Philofophy $ and in applying 
themfelves to fearch carefully into Matters of Faft, it 
was only from thence to arrive, at laft, at the True 
Knowledge of the Caufes. The Induftry, with which 
the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris , and We of 
Montpellier , have cultivated this part of Philofophy, 
were fufficient to prove the Ufefulnefs of it : But, with- 
out alledging here the Example of thofe Learned Socie- 
ties, who feem by their Inftitution to be particularly 
engaged in this Study * how many Emperors, Kings, 
Princes and Magiftrates, have we feen apply themfelves 
to it, for their own private Satisfa&ion. 
Alexander made it his common Diverfion, in the 
midft of his Labours in Conquering the World $ and 
the Famous • Ariflotle receiv’d of him 480000 Crowns 
for his Hiftory of Animals, which he compofed by 
his Order : And Pliny was as well rewarded for pre- 
fenting the Emperor f Titus with thofe Learned and 
Curious Collections he had made of Inquiries into Na- 
ture. 
* A'henaeus Deipnofophijlarum lib. 9. Arbitrate verb apud dottijji- 
mum Arijlotelem in optre Talehtorum multcrum mercede famofo 0 (nam 
Stagiriiem rumor increbuit ab Alexandra donatum fuijfe talenris oftin- 
gentis ad impenfam condtndis ijs libris nectlfariani) tit comperi nihil me- 
moratum fuijfe &c. 
t Pliny’s Epiftle Dedicatory. 
