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, M.D.

  • Smellie, William, 1740-1795.
Date:
1829
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, M.D. 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.)

    4/336
    IV I have been occasionally employed, since the period which I have mentioned, in collecting and digesting ma- terials from the most authentic sources. These materials I have interspersed with such observations, reflections, and reasonings, as occurred to me from considering the multi- farious subjects of which I have ventured to treat. I knew that a deliberate perusal of the numerous writers from Aristotle downwards, would require a considerable portion of time. But the avocations of business, and the trans- lating of a work so voluminous as the Natural History of the Count de Buffon, rendered my progress much slower than I wished. I now, however, with much diffidence, submit my labors to public opinion. With regard to the manner of writing, it is perhaps im- possible for a North Briton, in a work of any extent, to avoid what are called Scotticisms. But I have endeavour- ed to be everywhere perspicuous, and to shun every sen- timent or expression which might have a tendency to injure the feelings of individuals. Indulgent readers, though they must perceive errors and imperfections, will naturally make some allowance for the variety of research, and the labor of condensing so much matter into so small a compass. He is a bad author, it has been said, who affords neither an aphorism nor a motto. Upon the whole, the general design of this publication, is, to convey to the minds of youth, and of such as may have paid little attention to the study of Nature, a species of knowledge which it is not difficult to acquire. This knowledge will be a perpetual and inexhaustible source of many pleasures; it will afford innocent and virtuous amusement, and will occupy agreeably the leisure or vacant hours of life.