TO HIS

ROYAL HIGHNESS

THE

Duke of Cumberland.

SIR,

T

HE univerfal Approba

tion which the feveral

French Editions of this

Volume have received, from Perfons of the finest Tafte, furnished me

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with an Inducement to lay the following Tranflation at Your Royal Highness's Feet.

The amiable Qualities, with which Nature has enriched Your Royal Highness, have been fo happily cultivated by the best of Educations, that I'am perfuaded the wonderful Scenes of Providence, fo elegantly display'd in this Treatise, will not be confidered by Your Royal Highness, as an unpleafing Entertainment, unless I have been fo unfortunate as to render it fuch by a disagreeable Verfion.

As the Mind of Your Royal Highness has been watered with the pureft Streams that Learning could dispense and as you have long been habituated to those Institutions which render a

young Prince the Darling of those who have the Honour to approach him, there is fufficient Reason to believe,

that any generous Attempt to promote useful Knowledge, and infpire the Sons of Men with Gratitude to their great Creator, will obtain a favourable Reception from Your Royal Highness, whofe Cabinet has ever been inacceffible to the low Singularities of Infidels and Sceptics.

The worthy Author of the following Conversations, has charmed fo many of the politeft Readers, with his engaging Display of Nature, that I was ambitious of employing my fmall Abilities, in transfufing his Sentiments into the English Language; and should Your Royal Highness condefçend to think I have not been altoge

ther unsuccessful in my Attempt, I shall then have the Honour of being indebted to you, for a Pleasure that will always be gratefully predominant in the Heart of,

SIR,

Your Royal Highness's

Moft Obedient

And Moft Devoted

Humble Servant,

Samuel Humphreys.

THE

PREFACE.

F all the Methods capable of being practifed with Success, for cultivating the Underftanding of young Perfons, and giving them an early Habit of Thinking; there are none that produce more fure and lafting Effects than Curiofity. The Defire of Knowledge is as natural to us as Reafon, it exerts itself with Force and Vivacity through every Stage of Life; but never with more Efficacy than in Youth, when the Mind, being unfurnished with Knowledge feizes, with a peculiar Eagerness on every Object prefented to it, refigns itfelf to the Charms of Novelty, and easily contracts the Habit of Reflection and Attentiveness.

We might receive all the Benefit this happy Difpofition is able to produce, did we employ it upon Objects equally qualified to engage the Mind by Pleafure, and fill it with clear and inftructive Ideas. This double Advantage is to be attained, in full Perfection, by the Study of Nature; whether we confider her Structure, and Affemblage in general, or take a Survey of ber Beauties in particular. Through all her Works fhe is qualified to pleafe and inftruct

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because