The following publication is founded on two works, both of eftablifhed 
reputation, though of very different merit. 
The work of Mr. Charles Cl erck, of Sweden, on the Spiders of his 
own country, has been long admired and celebrated. His information 
refpe6ling a clafs of Infe6ls, which many may feel it in fome meafure 
difagreeable to ftudy from nature, is minute, curious, and interefting. 
His method and arrangement of the fubje6t, are truly luminous and fcien- 
tific. The book, at the fame time, was become fcarce, and the price of 
it was confequently much enhanced. Indeed, many lovers of Natural 
History, have found it fcarcely poflible to obtain a copy, at any price. 
At their follicitation, therefore, Mr. Martyn firft turned his thoughts to 
the revihon, and republication of it; its intrinhc value feemed to deferve 
all the time and trouble which he could beftow (and not a little has he 
bellowed, to give it a new and more elegant appearance); while the 
pra6licable hze of the work, which he faw would not, after all, detain 
him very long from greater purfuits, encouraged him to engage in it. It 
is now for the firll time given in an Englifh drefs ; and accompanied by 
a new feries of paintings, illullrative of the fubje6ls defcribed. 
The work of our countryman Eleazar Albin, on Englifh Spiders^ is 
of another defcription. His information in general is loofe, mifcel- 
laneous, and immethodical : though fometimes it is amuling, and often 
inllru6live; but he principally excels in the fidelity and corre6lnefs 
