41 
OF.NATURE. 
I am very fenfible, being conscious of my 
own weaknefs, how vaft and difficult a fubjedt 
it is, and how unable i am to treat it as it de- 
ferves ; a fubjedt which would be too great a 
talk for the ability of the moil experienced 
and fagacious men, and which properly per- 
formed would furniffi materials for large vo- 
lumes, My defign therefore is only to give 
a fummary view of it, and to fet forth to the 
learned world, as far as i am able, whatever 
curious, worthy to be known, and not ob- 
vious to every obferver occurs in the triple 
kingdom of nature. Thus if what the in- 
duftry of others ffiall in future times difcovef 
in this way be added to thefe obfervations, 
it is to be hoped, that a common flock may 
thence grow, and come to be of fome im- 
portance. But before i examine thefe three 
kingdoms of nature, it will not, i think, be 
amifs to fay fome thing concerning the earth 
in general, and its changes. 
§• 2. 
Th^ world, or the terraqueous globe, which 
we inhabit, is every where furrounded with ele- 
ments, and contains in its fuperficies the three 
kingdoms of nature, as they are called } the fof- 
M 
