THE BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN, &c. was first printed in a small periodical publication, which the author published, and conducted as editor, in 1814. In the humble form in which it there made its appearance, it attracted the notice of that respected individual to whom the present work is dedicated; and to this circumstance, more than any other, viz. its having been spoken of in terms of commendation, by one so competent to decide on its merits, as a learned professor in that particular department of science, of which, it had more directly presumed to treat, the present improved, and much enlarged edition, under the new and additional title of POPULAR PHILOSOPHY, &c. may be said to owe its existence. The following extracts from the letters, with which, the worthy professor above alluded to, favoured the author, upon learning his intention of republishing the work, in an enlarged and improved form, will sufficiently evidence the opinion he entertained of it. Extract of a letter from Dr. DAVIDSON, Professor of Civil and Natural History, in the Marischal College, Aberdeen. "The Book of Nature Laid Open, in a cursory and popular survey of several striking facts in Natural History, and in the phenomena and constitution of the Universe; in which the wisdom of God, and his goodness in their subserviency to man, are distinctly traced and pointed out," of which you have put a copy into my hands for my opinion, and of which you acknowledge yourself the authorI consider now, as I did on a former occasion when I had an op portunity of perusing it, as a very excellent and instructive treatise; and from the popular and easy manner in which you have treated your various subjects, I cannot help thinking that it is well calcu lated to become extensively useful, and I hope it will obtain a wide circulation.—Science required to be stripped of some of its technicalities to render it attainable by all classes, and this, in my view, you have effected with great credit to yourself, and with great probable advantage to the public. "The advantages arising from the study of the works of nature are numerous and various; an attempt to render so interesting a study popular, deserves every encouragement, and I shall be most happy to learn that your exertions have been amply rewarded by an extensive sale of your improved and extended work."-And, in another letter, the Doctor is pleased thus to express himself; "and, I trust, with the additions which you are so capable of giving, and which the improving state of science will enable you to render more extensive and correct, that you may produce a work of the highest utility to mankind in general." OR, THE BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN UPON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, AND AGREEABLY TO THE LIGHTS OF MODERN SCIENCE, AND THE PROGRESS OF NEW DISCOVERY: BEING, A NEW, IMPROVED, AND MUCH ENLARGED EDITION OF "THE BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN, in a cursory and popular survey of several striking facts in Natural History, and in the Phenomena and Constitution of the Universe; in which, the Wisdom of God, and his goodness in their subserviency to man, are distinctly traced and pointed out. THE WHOLE OCCASIONALLY INTERMIXED WITH SUITABLE MORAL REFLECTIONS, CALCULATED TO EXCITE DEVOTIONAL feeliNGS IN THE BREASTS OF THE YOUNG, AND TO RAISE THE THOUGHTS OF THE ADULT, BY THE EDITOR OF THE CHEAP MAGAZINE, AND MONTHLY MONITOR; AND THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL PIECES, WHICH HAVE APPEARED IN THESE AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS. "The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.”—Psal. cxi. 2. VOL. I. PRINTED FOR AND PUBLISHED BY G. MILLER, DUNBAR; AND SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS AND OTHER AGENTS, 1826.12 ΤΟ JAMES DAVIDSON, M.D. PROFESSOR OF CIVIL AND NATURAL HISTORY IN THE MARISCHAL COLLEGE, ABERDEEN, WHOSE FAVOURABLE OPINION OF THE BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN, UPON ITS FIRST APPEARANCE IN A PERIODICAL PUBLICATION OF HUMBLE IMPORT, HAS BEEN CHIEFLY INSTRUMENTAL IN DETERMINING THIS NEW MODELLED, MUCH ENLARGED, AND IMPROVED EDITION, UNDER THE TITLE OF POPULAR PHILOSOPHY, &c. IS, WITH SENTIMENTS OF GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM, RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. |