xx ii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



in becoming universal, must fill to the full the possible meas- 

 ure of human happiness.* 



In anticipation of the obvious criticism that the scheme 

 here sketched out is too extensive, it may be remarked that an 

 exhaustive treatment of each topic is not intended; but simply 

 the establishment of principles, with such illustrations as are 

 needed to make their bearings fully understood. It may also 

 be pointed out that, besides minor fragments, one large divis- 

 ion (The Principles of Psychology) is already, in great part, 

 executed. And a further reply is, that impossible though it 

 may prove to execute the whole, yet nothing can be said against 

 an attempt to set forth the First Principles and to carry their 

 applications as far as circumstances permit. 



The price per Number to be half-a-crown; that is to say, 

 the four Numbers yearly issued to be severally delivered, post 

 free, to all annual subscribers of Ten Shillings. 



* Part IV. of the Principles of Morality will be co-extensive (though 

 not identical) with the first half of the writer's Social Statics. 



This programme I have thought well to reprint for two 

 reasons: — the one being that readers may, from time to 

 time, be able to ascertain what topics are next to be dealt 

 with; the other being that an outline of the scheme may 

 remain, in case it should never be completed. 



The successive instalments of which this volume consists, 

 were issued to the subscribers at the following dates : — Part 

 I. (pp. 1—80) in October, 1860; Part II. (pp. 81—176) in 

 January, 1861; Part III. (pp. 177—256) in April, 1861; 

 Part IV. (pp. 257—334) in October, 1861; Part Y. (pp. 

 335—416) in March, 1862; and Part VI. (pp. 417—504) in 

 June, 1862.* 



London, June 5th, 1862. 



* These dates and pagings of the divisions as originally issued, of 

 course do not apply to the volume as it now stands, beyond page 123. 



