THE AUTHOR TO THE READER. 



'T^HIS little volume has been written with an 

 earnest purpose. The various chapters of 

 which it is composed will disclose in detail what 

 that purpose is. But an author has no right to 

 expect that the public, however indulgent, will read 

 his book unless he can, in his preface, show cause 

 why they should do so. Should he by the exercise 

 of rare ability succeed, in his introductory chapter, 

 in chaining the interest of his readers, he may need 

 no better passport to their continued indulgence 

 than that supplied by a powerful imagination and 

 a brilliant literary style. But, if he eschews the 

 endeavour to dazzle, and merely aspires to be 

 useful, he must adopt the humble role of an apolo- 

 gist, and give such preliminary explanations of the 

 object which he proposes to accomplish as may 



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