TO 



THE HONOURABLE AND RIGHT REVEREND 



SHUTE, 



LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM. 

 My Lord, 



The circumstances which induce me 

 to solicit your Lordships protection for the 

 following pages are such, that I trust they 

 will ensure pardon for myself and more in- 

 dulgence for my performance than I might 

 expect, even from your Lordships usual 

 goodness towards me. 



The contents of these pages were, in a very 

 unfinished state, honoured with the approba- 

 tion and encouragement of an excellent and 

 lamented lady, to whom they were destined to 

 be offered in their present less unworthy con- 

 dition. I should have been proud to have 

 sheltered them under her patronage, because 

 I have always found the most intelligent cri- 

 tics the most indulgent. Their general ten- 

 dency at least, as calculated to render an 

 interesting and useful science accessible, and 







l/tWS? 



