PREFACE 



BY THE EDITOR* 



The original work by John Imison, entitled "The> 

 School of Arts,'* was some years ago put into the 

 hands of the present editor, for the purpose of 

 adapting it to the improved state of Philoso- 

 phical Science. He engaged in the task the more 

 readily, as he conceived that, by giving a general 

 and concise view of the principles of Natural 

 Philosophy and Chemistry, and of their application 

 to the arts, he might be, in some degree, instru- 

 mental in promoting the diffusion of science 

 among persons deprived of the advantages of a 

 regular education. 



Having had many opportunities, in- the course 

 of his profession, of observing the great use of 

 even a small portion of scientific knowledge to a 

 valuable class of the community, mechanics, he 

 kept it particularly in his view to treat the various 

 subjects, so as to render them as easily intelligible 

 as possible; and, in general, to adapt the ex- 

 planation of them to that class for which the work 

 was intended by the original author. 



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