PREFACE. 17^ 



suaded that writing on a subject is one of the best 

 means of methodising and correcting one's, own 

 views of it; and hoping that, while he informed 

 himself, he might amuse, if not instruct, otiiers, he 

 submitted to the toils of collecting and arranging 

 the materials which are here presented. If none 

 of his readers should be able to .derive either enter- 

 tainment or information from the following sheets, 

 he has the satisfaction of reflecting, that he himself 

 derived both from the labour of preparing them 

 for the press. 



Though the greater part of this work consists 

 of compilations, yet the winter claims to be some- 

 thing more than a mere compiler. He has offered, 

 where he thought proper, opinions, reflexions, and 

 reasonings of his own ; and though nicmy of these 

 are adopted, perhaps too hastily, from others, there 

 are some of which all the praise and all the blame 

 belong to himself. He is not, however, solicitous 

 to discriminate, even if it were possible, between 

 these several parts of the work. If the exhibition 

 of facts and opinions, so far as it goes, be toler- 

 ably just, the question whence they originated is 

 of little consequence to the reader. 



With respect to the division and arrangement 

 of the subjects, it was judged advisable to adopt 

 rather a popular than a scientijic plan. T\\\s plan 

 is, no doubt, liable to some objections; but it ap- 

 peared better suited to the purj)Ose in view than any 

 other that presented itself. The reader will observe 

 that the sciences of Theology, Morals, and PolUicSy 

 are not noticed in this First Fart, i he reason of 



