The PREFACE.
things I had not observ'd, and seen others in different Seasons from me, I wrote to Sir Arthur Rawdon and my very learned Friend Dr. William Sherard, who then was with him, to desire the favour of them, that in order to the perfecting my Account of Jamaica, I might have a sight of what of that kind he brought over with him. This Sir Arthur Rawdon and Dr. Sherard not only granted, but also made me a Present of such Samples as had been brought over which I wanted. The Reader will find these taken notice of, in several Places of this History. After I had perused them, they were, together with abundance of other rare Plants, by Dr. Sherard's Direction sent to Oxford, where Mr. Jacob Bobart has made very good use of them in the History of Plants he lately publish'd there; and lest there might from dry Samples, come any Confusion in Natural History, Dr. Sherard afterwards at my Request gave me the View of such Plants as Mr. Bobart had describ'd, which has enabled me to put the Synonymous Names of the aforesaid History of Plants, publish'd by Mr. Bobart, which the Reader will likewise find taken notice of in their due places. These were not the only Favours I had of Dr. Sherard; for he furnished me with many scarce Books he bought in his Travels beyond Sea.
Many Persons were desirous I should publish an Account of what I met with towards the forwarding Natural History, I consented to this, provided the Observations I had made, should be thought worthy of Publication. I thought the greatest Judge I could advise with, in these Circumstances, was Mr. Ray, who for his Probity, Learning, Language, &c. seem'd to me the properest to advise with: I therefore waited on him, shew'd him Some of the Plants, and transmitted to him my Observations on them. I desired him to correct them and add his Emendations. He was pleased to approve of them, and think much better of them than I my self did, or do; so that the Emendations I expected, are wanting. I am afraid his Kindness, and favourable Opinion of me, may be the cause; for I am sensible there are herein a great many faults, not only in Hypotheses or Opinions, which I propose only as Conjectures, and shall easily part with; but there are likewise many imperfections in the Language, and in the Observations themselves, which were generally written in haste, and by me, who know too well how unduly qualified I am for such an Undertaking. However, such as they were, when I was resolv'd to publish them, I thought it necessary to look into the Books in several Languages, which treated of these Subjects either designedly or accidentally. Some Menseem
