IV DEDICATION. 



iioured parents, and one of the most illustrious 

 of those Avho owe their birth to my native 

 state. 



Among the numerous opinions expressed in 

 these volumes, you will, no doubt, find some 

 Vhich totally differ from vour own ; and 

 others which more attentive and enlarged 

 views would have taught me considerably to 

 modify or amend. Of the former you will 

 not consider this public address as implying 

 or soliciting your approbation. Of the latter 

 I am confident you will be disposed to form 

 a candid and even an indulgent estimate. 



But with respect to some of the leading 

 opinions delivered in the following sheets, I 

 am happy in the assurance that you perfectly 

 coincide v/ith me. To all that is said of the 

 perfect hai-mony between the Religion of 

 Christ and genuine Philosophy, and of the 

 illustration and support which the former has 

 received at every successive step of the latter 

 in the last age; to every unfavourable judg- 

 ment pronounced on tliose theories, falsely 

 called i)ljil()sophy, which pervert reason, con- 

 Irndict Kevelation, and blaspheme its divine 

 Aiillur; ;ni(l to e\ery expression of satisfac- 

 tion at the progress of elegant letters and sub- 



