A COMPLETE
SYSTEM
OF
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY:
EXPLAINING
The Nature and Properties of the EARTH
VIZ.
It's [sic.] Figure, Magnitude, Motions, Situation, Contents, and Divifion,
into Land and Water, Mountains, Woods, Defarts, Lakes, Rivers, &c.
With particular Accounts of the different Appearances of the Heavens in
different Countries; the Seafons of the Year over all the Globe; the Tides
of the Sea; Bays, Capes, Iflands, Rocks, Sand-Banks, and Shelves.
The State of the Atmosphere; the Nature of Exhalations; Storms, Tornados,
&c.
The Origin of Springs, Mineral Water, Burning Mountains, Mines, &c.
The Ufes and Making of Maps, Globes, and Sea Charts.
The Foundations of Dialling [?]; the Art of Meafuring Heights and
Diftances; the Art of Ship-Building, Navigation, and the
Ways of Finding the LONGITUDE at Sea.
Originally Written in LATIN
By BERNHARD VARENIUS, M.D.
Since Improved and Illuftrated.
By Sir ISAAC NEWTON and DR. JURIN;
And now Tranflated into Englifh; with additional Notes, Copper-Plates,
an Alphabetical Index, and other Improvements.
Particularly ufeful to Students in the Univerfities; Travellers,
Sailors, and all thofe who defire to be acquainted with Mixed Mathematics,
Geography, Aftronomy, and Navigation.
By Mr. DUGDALE.
The Whole Revifed and Corrected by PETER SHAW, M.D.
The Fourth Edition, with large Additions.
In TWO VOLUMES.
LONDON,
Printed for L. Hawes, W. Clarke, and R. Collins, at the Red-Lion
in Pater-Nofter-Row.
M.DCC.LXV
The
Translator's
Preface
The Original of this Work was re-printed at Cambridge
in the Year of 1672, for the Ufe of the Students in that Universfity; and
an Advertifement was given of it, the Beginning of the Year following,
in the Philosophical Tranfactions.
THE Dutch Edition being then out of Print, was carefully corrected,
in many, Places enlarged and improved, and the neceffary Tables and Schemes
fupplied by the Illuftrious Sir ISAAC NEWTON, at that Time Lucafian Profeffor
of Mathematics in that Univerfity.
THE Reafon why this great Man took fo much Care in Correcting and Publifhing
our Author, was, becaufe he thought him neceffary to be read by his Audience,
the Young Gentlemen of Cambridge, while he was delivering Lectures upon
the fame Subject from the Lucafian Chair. And tho' many Hundreds were then
printed at Cambridge and from that Edition often reprinted abroad; yet
by being frequently read in both Univerfities, all the Impreffions were
in Time fold off; fo that their Scarcity among the Bookfellers was obferved
by the Reverend Dr. Bentley to be a great Detriment to the Young Gentlemen
of Cambridge in perfecting their Studies.
WHEREUPON this worthy Encouraged and Advancer of all Sorts of Literature,
importuned the Learned Dr Jurin (as being the fitteft Perfon) to take particular
Care of a new Impreffion; and, for the Benefit of the younger Students,
to fupply the Defects of Varenius with an Appendix, containing the later
Difcoveries and Improvements.
TO Him therefore is owing that correct Edition of Varenius, wish an excellent
Appendix, printed in the Year 1712, and Dedicated to Dr Bentley; which
is the Edition from whence the following Tranflation was made.
[it continues]
The Principles of Geography.
From Section 1 Preliminaries, Chapter 1 Of the Definition, Division,
Method &c. of Geography, pp. 5-6
The Principles from which Arguments are drawn for proving Propofitions
in Geography are of three forts: 1. Geometrical, Arithmetrical, and Trigonometrical
Propofitions. 2. Afstronomical Precepts and Theorems (tho' it may feem
ftrange we fhould have Recourfe to the Celeftial Bodies, which are diftant
from us fo many Millions of Miles, for underftanding the Nature of the
Earth we inhabit). 3. Experience; becaufe the greateft Part of Geography,
and chiefly the Special, is founded only upon the Experience and Obfervartions
of thofe who have defcribed the feveral Countries.
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