/./&amp;gt; 



PREFACE. 



THE plan and outlines of the following work were sketched, and a considerable 

 portion of it composed, about eighteen years ago. It was advertised, as preparing 

 for the press, in 1823, when the author published the first edition of &quot; The 

 Christian Philosopher ;&quot; but various other engagements prevented its appear 

 ance at that period. The Introduction and the first two sections were published 

 in a respectable quarterly journal in the year 1816 ; but they are now consider 

 ably modified and enlarged. This circumstance will account for the date ol 

 some of the illustrative facts to which reference is made in the first part of the 

 volume, and in several portions of the Appendix. 



Had the present work been published at any of the periods now referred to, 

 the subject it discusses, and some of the illustrations, would have presented a 

 more novel aspect than they can lay claim to at the present time, when the 

 diffusion of knowledge has become an object of general attention. The author, 

 however, is not aware that any work embracing so full an illustration of the 

 same topics has yet made its ap pearance; and is, therefore, disposed to indulge 

 the hope, that, in conjunction with the present movements of society, it may, 

 in some degree, tend to stimulate those exertions which are now making for the 

 melioration and mental improvement of mankind. Independently of the general 

 bearing of the facts and illustrations on the several topics they are intended to 

 elucidate, the author trusts that not a few fragments of useful knowledge will be 

 found incorporated in the following pages, calculated to entertain and instruct 

 the general reader. 



In the numerous illustrations brought forward in this volume, it was found 

 impossible altogether to avoid a recurrence to certain facts which the author 

 had partially adverted to in some of his former publications, without interrupt 

 ing the train of thought, and rendering his illustrations partial and incomplete. 

 But, where the same facts are introduced, they are generally brought forward 

 to elucidate a different topic. Any statements or descriptions of this kind, 

 however, which may have the appearance of repetition, eould all be comprised 

 within the compass of three or four pages. 



The general subject of the present work will be prosecuted in another volume, 

 to be entitled &quot;The Mental Illumination of Mankind, or an inquiry into the 

 means by which a general diffusion of knowledge may be promoted.&quot; Thi* 



