X PREFACE. 



he believes, has originated from the expressions of some 

 of the periodical publications, which have concluded 

 their observations on the former volume, with stating 



o 



the nature of their expectations respecting the future vo- 

 lume, as if no more was intended to be published. It is 

 true, that the author has never yet specified of how many 

 volumes the work is to consist; and it is as true that he 

 is unable, even at the present moment, to form a decided 

 opinion on the subject. As his intention is to furnish 

 all the important information he can obtain, respecting 

 the different objects of his examination, the size of the 

 work will necessarily depend on the success with which 

 his inquiries may be pursued : but on this point it is 

 necessary to be still more explicit. 



Two modes of prosecuting the work, offered them- 

 selves for his adoption. The one required only a faithful 

 history of the different opinions of former writers on 

 these subjects. The figures necessary for illustration 

 might, in this case, have been obtained, by copying those 

 w T hich appeared to have been best chosen and best exe- 

 cuted, in the respective volumes of these authors. A 

 work executed on this plan, would have been accepta- 

 ble to many, since no such work at present exists in our 

 language. It would also have possessed this advantage, 

 that its size might have been, at the first, easily ascer- 

 tained and limited. 



