The PREFACE.
It may be objected, that there is no end of such Discoveries, that every Country, and distant Climate, has different Plants, not to be found in England. I answer it is not so, for tho' England be very remote, both in Longitude and Latitude, from Jamaica, yet I found there many Plants, which grow Sponte, which also I found to grow wild in England, and more I observ'd to be common to that Place, and the South Parts of France. By Collections sent to the very Industrious and Skilful Botanist Mr. Petiver, others, and my self, from Spain, Portugal, Barbary, Guinea, and the East-Indies, as well as by the Hortus Malabaricus, I find a great many Plants common to Spain, Portugal and Jamaica, more common to Jamaica and the East-Indies, and most of all common to Jamaica and Guinea; so that the following History may reasonably be suppos'd, not only to describe most of the Natural Productions of Espaniola, Barbados and the other hot American Isles, but also many of those of Guinea and the East-Indies, and therefore may be thought to contribute to the more distinct Knowlege of all those Parts.
I have been so conversant in Matters of this nature for several Years, that I know 'tis impossible to escape the Censure of several sorts of Men, as the Envious and Malitious, who will, I am sure, spare no Pains to find Faults; those who strive to make ridiculous any thing of this kind, and think themselves great Wits, but are very Ignorant, and understand nothing of the Argument. These, if one were afraid of them, and consulted his own Ease, might possibly hinder the Publication of any such Work, the Efforts to be expected from them, making possibly some impression upon, Persons of equal Dispositions; but considering: that I have the Approbation of Others, whose Judgement, Knowlege, &c. I have great reason to value; And considering that these sorts of Men, have been in all Ages ready to do the like, not only to ordinary Persons, and their Equals, but even to abuse their Princes, and blaspheme their Maker; I shall, as I have, ever since I seriously consider'd this Matter, think, of and treat them with the greatest Contempt.
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