PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. 



THIS edition has been carefully revised, and, in parts, 

 considerably modified. Thus the Essay on Britain's 

 Coal Cellars has been added, and two Essays on Govern- 

 ment Aid to Science have been removed. I may men- 

 tion that my views on the subject of the last-named 

 Essays have changed altogether since those Essays were 

 written certain circumstances which have come under 

 my observation having convinced me that more mischief 

 than advantage would result from any wide scheme for 

 securing Government aid for scientific researches. 



EICHARD A. PROCTOR. 



LONDON: January 1873. 



