Tho’ elevated Minds direct all their concern to what they _should be_, and not to any Applause for what they _really are_; yet, if to delineate their Excellency be offensive to Modesty, the Sincerity with which it is done, will, it is hoped, secure their Pardon. Now, what is it that makes the great Character, but Knowledge in all its diversity, a Sollicitousness for the Spread of Arts and Sciences, excelling in one’s particular Station of Life, and being divinely forward to all the high Offices of Humanity? This is the Picture of real Worth, and what can forbid to say, that Sir HANS SLOANE is the Life? That you may long continue the Restorer of Health, the Ornament of the Day, and in triumph over all the deadly Power of the _Old Serpent_, at last possess eternal Health, are the most sincere Wishes of him, who with a just Sense of Obligation, and the greatest Regards, is, _SIR_, _Your most humble_, _and devoted Servant_, WARRINGTON, _March 1, 1741-2_. Cha. Owen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] _TO THE_ _READER_. _The Divine Wisdom so variously displayed in the Works of Nature, even the lowest Order of them, entertains the human Eye with Prospects exquisitely beautiful and pleasurable: As our Knowledge is defective, we are at a loss how to account perfectly for the particular Ends of their Formation, and Manner of their Subserviency to the Whole of the Eternal Design._ _However, by Observation and Improvements in Natural Philosophy, we are assured thus far; that as the Almighty Creator made nothing in vain, so all his Works are good, and admirably fitted to answer the Purposes of his Will, and that his Wisdom, like his tender Mercies, shines through all the Systems of his Creatures._ _That there is not a wise Purpose in every thing that is made, because we do not understand it, is as absurd as for a Man to say, there is no such thing as Light, because he is blind, and has no Eyes to see it._ _For the Illustration of this, we may take a short View of Creatures, in vulgar account too diminutive and despicable a Species, to deserve a close Attention: And among these, if we consider the Noxious, we shall find, if not an Argument why they should be made, yet we shall be able to discern no Reason why they should not, because their Noxiousness is not so unavoidable, but that we may, and almost every one does avoid it._