VI ADVERTISEMENT. 



portant and valuable inventions to their true origin. To 

 the same cause is also to be attributed, the oblivion into 

 which, in a vast multitude of instances, modest and unob- 

 trusive merit has undeservedly fallen. 



Hints of the most valuable kind are occasionally thrown 

 out anonymously, in fugitive papers; or, though the 

 Authors may be known to, and esteemed by, their Con- 

 temporaries, their merits, and sometimes their very names, 

 in the next generation, pass into oblivion, and others reap 

 the reward of their genius or industry. 



Owing to the unavoidable haste in which, during his 

 short intervals of leisure from professional engagements, the 

 Author has executed the following sketch, he is aware that 

 he must have made many important omissions ; and he 

 regrets that he has been unable to make it as complete 

 as he trusts it will be found faithful and impartial. 



On one circumstance he has reason to congratulate such 

 of his readers as may be Townsmen, that a large portion 

 of literary talent and acquirement is here shown to have 

 existed, and to exist at this day, amongst us ; larger, perhaps, 

 than might have been presumed to belong to us. Let it be 

 our part to pay due respect to this talent, and to encourage 

 its cultivation, both as a matter of justice and policy; of 

 justice to those individuals who have done credit to the 

 place of which they are natives or denizens; and of policy 

 in prompting and inciting our youth to studies and pur- 



