The philosophy of natural history / by William Smellie ; with an introduction and various additions and alterations intended to adapt it to the present state of knowledge by John Ware.

  • Smellie, William, 1740-1795.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The philosophy of natural history / by William Smellie ; with an introduction and various additions and alterations intended to adapt it to the present state of knowledge by John Ware. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    33-7> 5 EXTRACT FROM THE PREFACE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK. About fifteen years ago, in a conversation with the late wor- thy, respectable, and ingenious Lord Rabies, upon the too general neglect of natural knowledge, his Lordship suggested the idea of composing a book on the Philosophy of Natural History. In a work of this kind, he proposed that the produc- tions of Nature, which to us are almost infinite, should, instead of being treated of individually, be arranged under general heads; that, in each of these divisions, the known facts, as well as rea- sonings, should be collected and methodised in the form of regu- lar discourses ; that as few technical terms as possible should be employed ; and that all the useful and amusing views arising from the different subjects should be exhibited in such a manner as to convey both pleasure and information. This task his Lordship was pleased to think me not altogether unqualified to attempt. The idea struck me. I thought that a work of this kind, if executed even with moderate abilities, might excite a taste for examining the various objects which every where solicit our attention. A habit of observation refines our feelings. It is a source of interesting amusement, prevents idle or vicious propensities, and exalts the mind to a love of virtue and of rational entertainment. I likewise reflected, that men of learning often betray an ignorance on the most common subjects of Natural History, which it is painful to remark. I have been occasionally employed, since the period which I have mentioned, in collecting and digesting materials from the most authentic sources. These materials I have interspersed with such