PREFACE. Gl 



the allegation that the seeming historical precedence 

 of Astronomy over Physics in M. Comte s pages, is 

 based on a verbal ambiguity a mere sleight of 

 words ; nor to the allegation, abundantly illustrated, 

 that a progression in an order the reverse of that 

 asserted by M. Comte may be as well substantiated ; 

 nor to various minor allegations equally irreconcile- 

 able with his scheme. I have met with nothing 

 more than iteration of the statement that the sciences 

 do conform, logically and historically, to the order in 

 which M. Comte places them ; regardless of the as 

 signed evidence that they do not. 



Under these circumstances it is unnecessary for me 

 to say more ; and I think I am warranted in con 

 tinuing to hold that the Comtean classification of the 

 sciences is demonstrably untenable. 



&quot;While, however, I have not entered further into the 

 controversy, as I thought of doing, I have added at 

 the close an already-published discussion, no longer 

 easily accessible, which indirectly enforces the general 

 argument. 



LONDON, 23rj) ATIOL, 1869. 



