PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



KNOWLEDGE is indispensably necessary to 

 better the condition of mankind. The posses- 

 sion of the information that will enable us to 

 procure what we need, is oftentimes more valu- 

 able than the possession of the same without 

 such knowledge; the advantages of the latter 

 are temporary, those of the former are perma- 

 nent. 



To be warned of danger is better than to be 

 armed to resist it. When the wrongs and im- 

 positions practised on communities are fully 

 exposed, they have no one to blarne but them- 

 selves for their continuance. It has ever been 

 considered the duty of each member of a com- 

 munity to do all in his power to expose and 

 redress existing wrongs, especially when those 

 wrongs affect the vital interests of all. From 

 these considerations we feel it a duty, and we 

 claim the right of giving freely the knowledge 



