Notices respecting New Books. 1 \^ 



it correct. My object tlid not preclude on the one hand, nor 

 on the other did it demand, originality: if this had been neces- 

 sary, my engagements and occupations would have rendered it 

 impossible for nie to have undertaken the work. But still so much 

 of the added matter lias been repeated and adopted by others, 

 whether with or without acknowledgement is of no consequence, 

 that I can infer therefrom, with tolerable safety, that my labours 

 have been of some utilitv in the judgement of others. 



" It is uimecessarv to repeat wliat 1 have stated in the former 

 preface, that for any chemical facts beyond the mere processes 

 I have chiefly referred to Thomson's Elements of Chemistry, 

 which in my own estimation is the best; and it is more particu- 

 larly valuable on account of its reference to the original authorities 

 upon whom its statements ultimately rest; and it would be 

 childish to complain of that common trick which omits any state- 

 ments, as if they had not been maile, when they happen to mi- 

 litate against the purpose of an objector. 



" I hope I sliall preserve as long as I live the ])Ower as well as 

 the will to resist personal attacks, and to defend and protect my 

 own character ; but I see no reason why I shoidd formally enter 

 the lists with every one who chooses to assail me from a dark 

 corner as I pass, or why like Erasmus I should hold myself com- 

 pelled .^■/;oio^«^=Tv*. As I wish, on this and every other occa- 

 sion, like him to go on my road peaceably, it has certainly been 

 matter of regret to me that I have been attacked with a viru- 

 lence beyond even that of sectarian controversy, though, thank 

 God, I have not been, and I hope never shall be, provoked by it 

 to a contest, in which victory itself must be disgraceful. 



" Tile present edition of the translation of course includes the 

 alterations made in the original ; and all the processes therein 

 which have undergone an.y change, or arc restored from the 

 Pharmacopoeia of 17^7, are marked thus, f. 



" I see my own error in attempting to mark the prommcia- 

 tion of words with which prosody has so little to do by the pro- 

 sodial characters, and have therefore em])loyed the method of 

 accentuation used by Dr. Young (Medical Literature 1813), and 

 which is not subject to the same objections, instead of them. 



" To the botanical generic and specific names I have sub- 

 joined the synonyms of the parts of the plants used in the French, 

 German, and Spanish languages, as far as, with only a very im- 

 perfect knowledge of either, I coidd glean them from Dr. Swe- 

 diaur's Materia Medica (Paris, An. 8.) because, under the pro- 

 spect of an increasing intercourse with the continent, which re- 



* " Ego ille pacis et quietis semper ainantissimus, cogor esse retiarius ; 

 nee hoc satij, cogor 3>, w«^«;^srv. 



« Epht. ud Poliim, 4 Mar. 1 j!26. 



K 2 cent 



