The natural history of Barbados : in ten books . with Fables, and enlivened with extravagant Fancies. Nor was Athens itfelf proof againfl: fo prevailing a Corruption. This was the State of every Branch of Philofophy in Greece; nor didthis Study meet with much better Succefs in the firft Part of the fucceed-ing Roman Empire. For while this was in its Infancy, during the Three* firft Ages, which were fpent in conquering Italy ; Stridlnefs of Man- ners, and the Art of War, were their chief Study, and continued to be fo, till they were Mafters of the Eaft. Then Oratory became theirDarling. Upon th
The natural history of Barbados : in ten books . with Fables, and enlivened with extravagant Fancies. Nor was Athens itfelf proof againfl: fo prevailing a Corruption. This was the State of every Branch of Philofophy in Greece; nor didthis Study meet with much better Succefs in the firft Part of the fucceed-ing Roman Empire. For while this was in its Infancy, during the Three* firft Ages, which were fpent in conquering Italy ; Stridlnefs of Man- ners, and the Art of War, were their chief Study, and continued to be fo, till they were Mafters of the Eaft. Then Oratory became theirDarling. Upon the Declenfion of the Roman Empire, the Darknefs ofIgnorance, that enfued thro many fucceffive Ages, fpread like Elijah\Cloud, and, in a Darknefs, like that of Egypty enveloped the fmall Re-mains of Learning in almoft a total Eclipfe. Nor did the Philofophical Part of it revive, or fhew the lead Spark ofits native Brightnefs, till Galileo in Italy^ and the great Bacon in England,became its Patrons. A It * sprats Hiftory of th© Royal Society, P R. PREFACE. It was about this Time that Natural Hiftory, as well as every jBianchof Experimental Philolbphy, became the Study of great Men in differentCountries, in Engla?7d efpecially, and fome time afterwards in France^under the Protecftion of that great Patron of Literature ,/.^lij/j the XIVth,whofe Princely Favours fought for, and encouraged, Men of Learning,not in Fraitce only, but in the mofl: diftant Countries. But of late Years its greateft Promoters have been the Royal Society in E?igland^ and the Academy of Sciences in Fra?ice : By their means chiefly, has the World received more ufeful Difcoveries and Improve- ments in one Century, than it had done for many Ages before. If they go on with the fame unwearied Diligence and Succefs for one Century more, what Depths of Nature will not be explored ? What Treafures of Knowlege will not be difplayed ? But tho many Branches of this excellent Study have, of late Years,been fo laudably cu
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