PREFACE. xi 



want of more just and enlarged views, the author 

 fears he has often written in a crude and unsatis- 

 factory manner on topics which, in the same com- 

 pass, might have been better discussed. In some 

 instances, however, he has failed of giving a more 

 satisfactory account of the additions made to sci- 

 ence, by distinguished individuals, from another 

 pause: Where it w^ould have been impossible to 

 state the precise limits of what each has done to 

 advance our knowledge of a particular subject, 

 without going into a discussion of many pages, 

 little more is frequently attempted than to give a 

 list of the names of those individuals, on the pre- 

 sumption that the inquisitive reader will seek for a 

 more full account of their respective claims else- 

 where. 



It will not be supposed that the author has at- 

 tentively read all the works concerning which he 

 delivers opinions. Sorne of them he never saw, 

 and has ventured to give their character entirely on 

 the authority of those whom he considers better 

 judges than himself. Many he has seen and con- 

 sulted, with more or less attention, as his avoca- 

 tions allowed. It is only a small part which he can 

 claim the honour of having read and studied with 

 care. It is probable, however, that he might have 

 spared himself the trouble of making this confes- 

 sion; symptoms of superficial reading, or of strik- 

 ing unacquaintance with many w^orks of which he 

 speaks, will, no doubt, be often discovered. 



In enumerating the principal writers on the va-- 

 rious subjects reviewed, it will be observed that 

 those who have written in the English language 

 engage the largest share of the author's atten- 

 tion. The reason of this is obvious; he is best 

 acquainted with such writers; and from his ig- 



