PART I. SOMATOLOGY, treateth of the univerfal Nature and Properties,
of Matter, or Subftance, and the fpecifick Qualities of natural Bodies.
PART II. COSMOLOGY, exhibiteth a general View of the Univerfe, and
its great conftituent Parts; the Sun, Moon, Planets, Comets, fix'd
Stars, &c.

PART III, AEROLOGY, comprifeth the Philofophy of the Atmosphere,
fhewing the wonderful Nature and Properties of the Air, Wind, Meteors,
and other Phænomena therein.

PART IV. GEOLOGY, containeth a philofophical View of the terraqueous
Globe, in all its Parts and Productions; as Minerals, Metals, Stones, &c.
The Laws of Fluids; the Sea, its Tides, &c. Of Rivers, Springs, &c.
Of Vegetation, and the Nature of Plants, Trees, &c. Or the Parts of
animal Bodies; and a Survey of the Nature of Beafts, Birds, Fishes,
Infects, Reptiles, Shell-Animals, &c.

The whole extracted from the Writings of the greatest Naturalifts of the
laft and prefent Age, treated in the familiar Way of Dialogue, adapted
purpofely to the Capacities of the Youth of both Sexes; and adorned
and illuftrated with Variety of Copper-Plates, Maps, &c. Several of
which are entirely new, and all eafy to be understood.

By BENT. MARTIN, DÓTexv☺.

The Works of the Lord are great, fought out of all them that have pleasure
therein, Pfalm cxi. 2.

Philofophia mater omnium bonarum artium, nihil eft aliud, nifi, ut Plato
ait, donum et inventum Deorum. Cicero, 1 Tufc.

LONDON:

Printed for J. Noor, at the White Hart in Cheapfide, near Mercers-
Chapel. Mpcc xxx V,

G 157 .M38

то тНЕ

BRITISH YOUTH

O F

BOTH SEX ES,

THESE

RUDIMENTS, or First PRINCIPLES

O F

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY

(Defign'd for their

Rational DELIGHT and AMUSEMENT,
and Real PROFIT and USE, in the IM-
PROVEMENT of their MINDS in the most
Noble Part of KNOWLEDGE)

Are Humbly Recommended,

and Infcribed by the Compofer,

BENJ. MARTIN,

L

10-7-44

BHP

PREFACE

Do not intend this Preface to give an Account of the Particulars contained in the following Book; the Title Page, large Table of Contents, or RunningTitles, are abundantly fufficient for that: But rather that the Reader may have fome Account of the Reasons why I bave compofed for him the enfuing Treatife; and they are as follow:

First, The Knowledge of the wonderful Works of God in Nature, is of the most exalted and divine Sort, which buman Understanding car pretend to; and the more we know of this, the more perfect will be our Nature, and the more nearly fhall we approach to the Image and Likeness of God: And therefore, fince this is the Subject of the Book before us, I think it ought to be made as plain, and as publick as poffible, That all (who are not fupinely funk beneath the Dignity of their Nature, and wretchedly content to live in Ignorance) (A3)

may