xii 
testify. And with respect to the delay in the publication of 
this Essay, I should state, that I was at all times ready to 
undertake it, after the printing of the Transactions of the 
Academy repassed into the original hands, not only because 
it was an Essay of smaller size, and requiring fewer illustra- 
tions, but that I was even anxious to do so, as it would have 
been the proper precursor to my larger work, which relates 
to a later class of antiquities. With this desire of mine, how- 
ever, the Council showed the strongest indisposition to 
comply ; and, consequently, I applied my mind, as much as 
circumstances would permit, to the preparation for the Press, 
of my Essay on the Round Towers. But being still em- 
ployed on the Ordnance Survey, the time at my disposal 
was very limited, and it was not till the department in which 
I was employed, was finally broken up at the close of the 
year 1842, that I was enabled to give nearly my whole time _ 
and attention to the work, and commenced its printing. 
Since that period, I may say, I have done little else than 
labour at it. Ihave allowed myself no leisure for enjoyment 
or for exercise. In my devotion to it, I have reduced myself 
to poverty, and injured my constitution, perhaps irretriev- 
ably. And yet, all these efforts have only enabled me to see 
through the Press a volume of it, now on the eve of publica- 
tion ; for the subjects treated of, in the copious manner which 
I conceived that they merited, have run the work to the ex- 
tent of two volumes. 
‘“‘ Tt is true, that many may say that they did not require 
a work of so elaborate a character; but surely an author 
himself should be considered the best judge of what was 
necessary to his subject, at least till, by the publication of 
his work, he has enabled others to prove that he was in 
error. 
* With respect to the charge against the Council, for 
having permitted me to enlarge my Essay, I have only to say, 
that I am sure they did so from an anxious desire to promote, 
