As to the _External_ Productions of the Earth, the Inquiries may be such as these: What Grasses, Grains, Herbs, (Garden and Wild) Flowers, Fruit-trees, Timber-trees (especially any Trees, whose wood is considerable) Coppices, Groves, Woods, Forrests, &c. the Country has or wants: What peculiarities are observable in any of them: What Soyles they most like or dislike; and with what Culture they thrive best. What _Animals_ the Country has or wants, both as to wild Beasts, Hawks, and other Birds of Prey; and as to Poultrey, and {189} Cattle of all sorts, and particularly, whether it have any _Animals_, that are not common, or any thing, that is peculiar in those, that are so. The _Internal_ Productions or Concealments of the Earth are here understood to be, the riches that ly hid under the Ground, and are not already referr'd to other Inquiries. Among these _Subterraneal_ observations may be taken notice of, what sorts of Minerals of any kind they want, as well as what they have; _Then_, what Quarries the Country affords, and the particular conditions both of the Quarries and the Stones: As also, how the Beds of Stone lye, in reference to North and South, &c. What Clays and Earths it affords, as Tobacco-pipe-clay, Marles, Fullers-earths, Earths for Potters wares, Bolus's and other medicated Earths: What other Minerals it yields, as Coals, Salt-Mines, or Salt-springs, Allom, Vitrial, Sulphur, &c. What Mettals the Country yields; and a description of the Mines, their number, scituation, depth, signs, waters, damps, quantities of ore, goodness of ore, extraneous things and ways of reducing their ores into Mettals, &c. To these General Articles of inquiries (saith their _Proposer_) should be added; 1 _Inquiries_ about _Traditions_ concerning all particular things, relating to that Country, as either peculiar to it, or at least, uncommon elsewhere, 2 _Inquiries_, that require _Learning_ or _Skill_ in the Answerer: to which should be subjoyned _Proposals_ of ways, to enable men to give Answers to these more difficult inquiries. _Thus far_ our Author, who, as he has been pleased to impart these _General_ (but yet very _Comprehensive_ and greatly _Directive_) Articles; so, 'tis hoped from his own late intimation, that he will shortly enlarge them with _Particular_ and _Subordinate_ ones. These, in the mean time, were thought fit to be publisht, that the Inquisitive and Curious, might, by such an Assistance, be invited not to delay their searches of matters, that are so highly conducive to the improvement of _True Philosophy_, and the wellfare of _Mankind_. {190} * * * * * _An Extract of a Letter, Written from _Holland_, about _Preserving of Ships from being Worm-eaten_._ This _Extract_ is borrowed from the _French journal des Scavans_ of _Febr._ 15. 1666. and is here inserted, to excite Inventive heads _here_, to overtake the Proposer in _Holland_. The letter runs thus: