XIV PREFACE. 



deem confidential converfatioru and which 

 the world is fo apt to ridicule as vain ego- 

 tifin ; fince it is underftood that he has not 

 left biographic documents; fmce Mr. Bilf- 

 borrow was fcarcely in exiftence when his 

 illuftrious friend firft changed his fphere of 

 aftion ; he muft find himfelf as much a 

 ftranger to the particulars of his Lichfield 

 refidence, as I am of thofe which were moft 

 prominent in the equal number of years 

 he pafled at Derby, Between us,, all will 

 probably be known that can now with 

 accuracy be traced of Dr. Darwin. 



To the beft of my power I have pre- 

 fumed to be the recorder of vanifhed Ge- 

 nius, beneath the ever-prefent confcioufnefs 

 that biography and criticifm have their 

 facred duties, alike to the deceafed, and to 

 the public ; precluding, on one hand, un- 

 juft depreciation, on the other, over-valu- 

 ing partiality. 



