PREFACE. xiiJ 



mankind. Itisproper to commiserate the mistakes 

 of such persons, to abhor their blasphemy, and to 

 warn men against their fatal delusions; but it is 

 surely difficult to see either the justice or utility of 

 withholding from them that praise of genius or 

 of learning to which they are fairly entitled. 



It will probably be remarked, by the intelligent 

 reader, that a due projwrtion between the parts 

 of this work, according to the relative importance 

 and extent of each subject, is not always preserv- 

 ed. Had the manuscript been completed before 

 any part of it was sent to the press, faults of this 

 kind would, no doubt, have been, in some de- 

 gree, avoided ; but the truth is, that the first 

 pages of the manuscript were put into the hands 

 of the printer before a single chapter of the work 

 had been fully written; and each successive sheet 

 was prepared, from the materials previously col- 

 lected, at the call of the printer, and amidst 

 the hurry of incessant professional labours. It 

 is scarcely necessary to add, that this race with 

 the press frequently rendered impossible that labo- 

 rious investigation, and that careful correction 

 which were highly desirable: nor could the au- 

 thor excuse himself for conduct so manifestly in- 

 discreet, had he duly considered beforehand the 

 nature and magnitude of the engagement. But 

 it must be acknowledged, that as he entered on 

 the work without duly appreciating the arduous- 

 ness of his undertaking, so every step in the pur- 

 suit convinced him more and more of its extent 

 and difficulty; that in the prosecution of his task 

 he wished an hundred times he had never under- 

 taken it; and that now it is brought to a close, 

 few readers Ccm Idc more sensible than he is him- 

 self of its numerous and great defects. 



