VI. PREFACE. 



only by the light of their faculty of common sense, and their own 

 personal observations in nature without reference to any book 

 whatever, except it may be the Scriptures. 



To our possible critics we desire to say that it is useless, for the 

 purpose of convincing us, to attempt to refute our theories by refer- 

 ring to the statements of any man of Science, however eminent, as 

 we recognise no positive authority under God and Nature. 



To the many distinguished men now living whose opinions we have 

 ignored, we are personally unknown, and whatever force of language 

 may have been used in refuting their theories, must be attributed to 

 the strength of our convictions on the subject and its commanding 

 importance, and not of course to any unkind feeling to the gentlemen 

 themselves. 



We are aware of the imperfect nature of our work, that many 

 unavoidable inaccuracies will present themselves to the careful reader, 

 and that much is comprised in the main part of the work which 

 ihould appear only as notes; yet we would have these drawbacks 

 excused for the sake of the great truths meant to be conveyed. 



The scope of the work also is such covering as it does facts and 

 systems of Science about which whole libraries have been written 

 that, owing to our limited space and the necessary condensation, the 

 intent and meaning may sometimes be difficult to apprehend ; but we 

 have preferred to publish the Book even in its imperfect condition, in 

 order that we might the sooner obtain the critical suggestions of the 

 scientific world, as a means of rendering it more perfect: for, far 

 from being a work for one man only, there is material to occupy the 

 lives of many scientific men. We have therefore hastened the pub- 

 lication, in order, as intimated, to obtain the assistance of inch 



