PREFACE. 



The conclusion of a new volume of a work, involving so 

 much care, labour and responsibility, as are necessarily at- 

 tached, at the present day, to a Journal of Science and the 

 Arts, naturally produces in the mind, a state of not ungrate- 

 ful calmness, and a disposition, partaking of social feeling, 

 to say something to those who honour such a production, by 

 giving to it a small share of their money, and of their time. 

 The Editor's first impression was, that the sixth volume 

 should be sent into the world without an introductory note, 

 but he yields to the impulse already expressed, and to the 

 established usages of respectful courtesy to the public, 

 which a short preface seems to imply. He has now perse- 

 vered almost five years, in an undertaking, regarded by ma- 

 ny of the friends whom he originally consulted, as hazard- 

 ous,and to which not a (ew of them prophetically alloted on- 

 ly an ephemeral existence. It has been his fortune to pros- 

 ecute this work, without, (till a very recent period,) re- 

 turns, adequate to its indispensable responsibilities;-under a 

 heavy pressure of professional and private duty ; with try- 

 ing fluctuations of health, and amidst severe and reiterated 

 domestic afflictions. The world are usually indulgent to al- 

 lusions of this nature, when they have any relation to the 

 discharge of public duty ; and in this view, it is with satis- 

 faction, that the Editor adds, that he has now to look on for- 

 midable difficulties, only in retrospect, and with something 

 of the feeling of him, who sees a powerful and vanquished 

 foe, slowly retiring, and leaving afield no longer contested. 



This Journal which, from the first, was fully supplied with 

 original communications, is now sustained by actual payment, 

 to such an extent, that it may fairly be considered as an es- 

 tablished work; its patronage is regularly increasing, and we 

 trust it will no longer justify such remarks as some of the 

 following, from the pen of one of the most eminent scientific 

 men in Europe.* " Nothing surprises me more, than the 



* Who, however, had seen only the four first volumes. 



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