Volume 1

Natural history, general and particular / by the Count de Buffon, illustrated with above six hundred copper plates. The history of man and quadrupeds, translated with notes and observations by William Smellie... A new edition, carefully corrected and considerably enlarged, by many additional articles, notes and plates, and some account of the life of M. de Buffon. By William Wood.

  • Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc, comte de, 1707-1788.
Date:
1812
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural history, general and particular / by the Count de Buffon, illustrated with above six hundred copper plates. The history of man and quadrupeds, translated with notes and observations by William Smellie... A new edition, carefully corrected and considerably enlarged, by many additional articles, notes and plates, and some account of the life of M. de Buffon. By William Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ments with regard to this point, many in* cumbrances, which now load the science, would be removed; the tyro would not be disgusted and retarded by an infinity of sy- nonyms ; natural history would acquire a more simple and intelligible form; and the number of its votaries would soon be augmented, . The second species of system is more eler vated and sublime. But, as it includes the whole philosophy of Nature, it requires a depth of judgment, a superiority of genius, an extent of knowledge, which are seldom united in the same person. Natural ob- jects are wonderfully diversified in their structure, ceconomy, and faculties. But, in these, as well as in many other circum- stances, they are no less wonderfully con- nected. Here,' then, are foundations for constructing the system of Nature. To mark the distinctions, to investigate the relations, to ascertain the great chain that unites the numerous tribes which people and adorn the universe, would demand ta- lents superior, perhaps, to those of huma- nity. We ought not, however, to despair. Hardly any bounds can be set to the com- bined force of different minds acting sue-