INTRODUCTION. 5 



then expressed it) " to elicit from their more able and efficient 

 efforts the complete confutation, the appropriate modification, 

 or the ultimate establishment of the premises set forth." 



A copy of this original prospectus, with its errors (since 

 discovered and amended by me), is now to be found in the 

 Appendix. 



No notice being taken by any of the scientific parties (to 

 whom they were addressed), no doubt from the natural cre- 

 dence, that I laboured under delusion, I have waited nineteen 

 years, during which have been effected, with colossal strides in 

 the advance of Science, many extraordinary and brilliant dis- 

 coveries, reflecting due honor on the splendid abilities of the 

 most persevering promoters of the general good, from whom 

 they have emanated, and whose names w r ill be recorded with 

 just estimation in the annals of philosophy. 



From the nature of many of those discoveries, so unex- 

 pected by the anticipations of analogous comparison, an epoch 

 has at length arrived, when a subject of such doubt, of being 

 worthy of consideration as the following, may obtain impartial 

 and unprejudiced investigation. 



As the sole object of the present Essay is the Elucidation of 

 TRUTH, the ordeal of criticism will be most acceptable ; and 

 the substitution of any more rational and better supported 

 system is not only courted, but its superior merits will receive 

 the most willing and ready accordance from 



THE AUTHOR. 



