testify. And with respect to the delay in the publication of 

 this Essay, I should state, that I was at all times ready to 

 undertake it, after the printing of the Transactions of the 

 Academy repassed into the original hands, not only because 

 it was an Essay of smaller size, and requiring fewer illustra- 

 tions, but that I was even anxious to do so, as it would have 

 been the proper precursor to my larger work, which relates 

 to a later class of antiquities. With this desire of mine, how- 

 ever, the Council showed the strongest indisposition to 

 comply ; and, consequently, I applied my mind, as much as 

 circumstances would permit, to the preparation for the Press, 

 of my Essay on the Round Towers. But being still em- 

 ployed on the Ordnance Survey, the time at my disposal 

 was very limited, and it was not till the department in which 

 I was employed, was finally broken up at the close of the 

 year 1842, that I was enabled to give neai'ly my whole time 

 and attention to the work, and commenced its printing. 

 Since that period, I may say, I have done little else than 

 labour at it. I have allowed myself no leisure for enjoyment 

 or for exercise. In my devotion to it, I have reduced myself 

 to poverty, and injured my constitution, perhaps irretriev- 

 ably. And yet, all these efforts have only enabled me to see 

 through the Press a volume of it, now on the eve of publica- 

 tion ; for the subjects treated of, in the copious manner which 

 I conceived that they merited, have run the work to the ex- 

 tent of two volumes. 



" It is true, that many may say that they did not require 

 a work of so elaborate a character ; but surely an author 

 himself should be considered the best judge of what was 

 necessary to his subject, at least till, by the publication of 

 his work, he has enabled others to prove that he was in 

 error. 



" With respect to the charge against the Council, for 

 having permitted me to enlarge my Essay, I have only to say, 

 that I am sure they did so from an anxious desire to promote. 



