[ iv ] 
’T i s true, this large field, fo fertile in matter and fully flock’d 
for observation, with all its varieties is but a blank and dreary defart 
to the heedlefs and inattentive traveller. Bounteous Providence has 
laid her works before us ; (he has opened the fpacious volume of 
Nature ; ’tis our part to read, compare, and underftand. 
Natural History is the handmaid to Providence, collects into 
a narrower fpace what is diftributed through the Univerfe, arrang- 
ing and difpofing the feveral Foflils, Vegetables, and Animals, fo 
as the mind may more readily examine and diftinguifh their beau- 
ties, inveftigate their caufes, combinations, and effects, and rightly 
know how to apply them to the calls of private and public life. 
It fills the aCtive and more focial mind with ideas, and experi- 
mental deductions, profitable to the community, and productive of 
manufactures, additional employ and commerce. It enables the 
retired and ftudious mind to profecute her contemplations, make 
difcoveries and calculations, plan improvements, and aflift fpecula- 
tion ; but above all, raifes the mind, in both circumftances, to the 
Author of all thefe things. 
The principal ufe therefore of Natural Hiftory, is, that it leads 
us direCtly to Religion ; it fhews us every where the plain footfteps 
of defign and intelligence, and points out to us all the attributes 
of God. 
What arguments and words fhall feldom compafs, the fmalleft 
and leaft confiderable of thefe works fhall effeCt irrefiftibly ; the eyes 
of a' fly, the wing of an infeCt, the fcale of a fifii, fhall manifeft a 
Deity to any perfon, who will purfue efleCts up to their caufes, 
beyond contradiction, and above all doubt. 
> 
Look where we will, admiration feizes us; we perceive the 
ftrength and immenfity of fome works, as well as the inimitable 
fkill of others ; and we revere the Power , as well as fee the Wifdom 
of their Great Author ; we obferve the fplendor and excellency of 
other 
