INTRODUCTION. 19 



whom Hunter himself would have exulted. Would that 

 this attempt had been made on a larger scale, that the 

 writer to whom I refer l had in consequence developed 

 his opinions systematically, and carried them yet further 

 back, even to their ultimate principle ! 



But this the scientific world has yet to expect; or it 

 is more than probable that the present humble endeavour 

 would have been superseded, or confined, at least, to the 

 task of restating the opinion of my predecessor with such 

 modifications as the differences that will always exist be- 

 tween men who have thought independently, and each for 

 himself, have never failed to introduce, even on problems 

 of far easier and more obvious solution. 



Without further preface or apology, therefore, I shall 

 state at once iny objections to all the definitions that 

 have hitherto been given of Life, as meaning too much or 

 too little, with an exception, however, in favour of those 

 which mean nothing at all ; and even these last must, in 

 certain cases, receive an honour they do not merit, and 

 be confuted, or rather detected,, on account of their too 

 general acceptance, and the incalculable power of words 

 over the minds of men in proportion to the remoteness of 

 the subject from the cognizance of the senses. 



1 Mr. Abernethy. 



