viii PREFACE. 



sermon, and to adopt a plan that would admit of 

 more minuteness of detail, and of greater freedom 

 in the choice and exhibition of facts. This alte- 

 ration in the structure of the work led to an exten- 

 sioi> of its limits ; materials insensibly accumu- 

 lated; and that portion which was originally in- 

 tended to be comprised in a third or fourth part 

 of a single volume gradually swelled into two 

 volumes*. 



It is probable that one of the first reflexions 

 made by most readers of the following pages will 

 be, that the plan is too extensiye to be well exe- 

 cuted by any individual ; and that it was peculiarly 

 presumptuous, in one of comparatively small read- 

 ing, and who could not obtain access to ample 

 libraries, to undertake such a work. The author 

 feels the justness and weight of this reflexion; and 

 is sensible that to present a full and satisfactory 

 view of any one of the departments embraced by 

 this Retrospect, would be a task beyond his 

 powers, would afford abundant employment, for 

 many years, to a mind much more mature, active, 

 and enlightened than his, Wh}^ then, it will be 

 asked, did iie adventure on so arduous an enterprise? 

 In answer to this question, he must ingenuously 

 confess, that he engaged without any due considera- 

 tion, and did not begin suitably to estimate the 

 extent and dilhcidty of the task till he had pro- 

 ceeded too far to retract. He is also bound in 

 candoiir to declare, that his own instruction and 

 im))rovoment were among his principal motives in 

 undertaking and i)rosecuting this work. Being per- 

 * 'J'hc (jrio-iiiLil cdrtion is in two volumes. 



