i.] INTRODUCTORY. 3 



sustained effort, need not feel much regret that the 

 road to be travelled over is indirect, and does not 

 admit of being mapped beforehand in a. way they can 

 clearly understand. It is full of interest of its own. 

 It familiarizes us with the measurement of variability, 

 and with curious laws of chance that apply to a vast 

 diversity of social subjects. This part of the inquiry 

 may be said to run along a road on a high level, 

 that affords wide views in unexpected directions, and 

 from which easy descents may be made to totally 

 different goals to those we have now to reach. I have 

 a great subject to write upon, but feel keenly my 

 literary- incapacity to make it easily intelligible without 

 sacrificing accuracy and thoroughness. 



B 2 



