Volume 2

Spectacle de la nature: or, nature display'd. Being discourses on such particulars of natural history as were thought most proper to excite the curiosity, and form the minds of youth ... / Translated by Mr. Humphreys.

  • Noël-Antoine Pluche
Date:
1757-63
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Spectacle de la nature: or, nature display'd. Being discourses on such particulars of natural history as were thought most proper to excite the curiosity, and form the minds of youth ... / Translated by Mr. Humphreys. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [{ vi] AN EXPLA N AT T'O°N OF THE FRONTISPIECE. S Solomon, in the Frontifpiece of the firft Volume, whofe Subject is Natural Hiftory, was the moft pro- per Example that could be introduced to authorife that Study ; fo no Reprefentation can be better adapted to this fecond Volume, which comprehends all the Branches of Agriculture, than the Emperor Probus ; to whofe Care we owe the Burgundy and Champaign, the Spani/h and Tokay Wines. He is therefore exhibited; from the Authority of Vopifcus, as amufing himfelf, after his Viétories, in caufing his Soldiers to plant the Vine, whofe Fruit we ftill enjoy. And, in order to enliven the Defign, we fuppofe that the People had immortalized their Gratitude, by erecting to the Honour of that Prince a Column, wound about with Vines, and crowned with a large fhell filled with Grapes, with the following Infcription ; in which they celebrate him in the manner Horace had celebrated ‘ Bacchus, for difpenfing Felicity in Conjunction with the Vine : PROBO. IMPERATORI, PATRI. PATRIAE. LAETITIAE, DATORI. Explanation of Plate 21. Vor. II. Page 241. A, B. The Bafe of the Pedeftal, and other Supporters. C. The Cheeks, or Side Beams. ‘Thefe are the upright Beams, whofe lower Extremities are funk in the Karth, - where they are ftrongly rivetted by crofs Beams charged with Mafonry. ‘Thefe upright Beams are traverfed to- wards the Top by two itrong beams, the lowermoft of which is the inut, or the Receptacle of the Screw. : 1. ‘the
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