vi PREFACE 



ing themes, from the nine volumes of his " Essays," 

 from his "Scientific Memoirs" and his "Letters," 

 to be published in a small volume, complete in itself 

 and of a size that can be carried in the pocket. 



Some of the passages were picked out for their 

 philosophy, some for their moral guidances, some 

 for their scientific exposition of natural facts, or 

 for their insight into social questions ; others for 

 their charms of imagination or genial humour, and 

 many not the least for their pure beauty of lucid 

 English writing. 



In so much wealth of material it was difficult to 

 restrict the gathering. 



My great wish is that this small book, by the 

 easy method of its contents, may attract the atten- 

 tion of those persons who are yet unacquainted 

 with my husband's writings ; of the men and women 

 of leisure, who, although they may have heard of 

 the " Essays," do not care to work their way through 

 the nine volumes ; of others who would like to read 

 them, but who have either no time to do so or coin 

 wherewith to buy them. More especially do I hope 

 that these selections may attract the attention of the 

 working man, whose cause my husband so ardently 

 espoused, and to whom he was the first to reveal, 

 by his free lectures, the loveliness of Nature, 

 the many rainbow-coloured rays of science, and to 



