* 9 



PREFACE. 



IN presenting the following thoughts 

 or reflections to the public, the writer 

 is aware, that some errors of diction, 

 if not of logical deduction, may have 

 escaped unnoticed. The work was 

 written at intervals, during which his 

 professional duties required his unre- 

 mitting attention. 



In endeavoring to avoid technicali- 

 ties, and to render his subject intelligible 

 to the general reader, some repetitions 

 may have been introduced, which, upon 



