PBEFAOE. 



been indebted for any success that might attend my 

 labours ; for any one at all conversant with experi- 

 mental researches will readily acknowledge, that 

 to make any advance ■ in the special subject of his 

 inquiry, it becomes absolutely necessary for him to 

 obtain some clear ideas in regard to the subject of 

 bis investigations ; and I do not think it can be 

 supposed for a moment, that an individual could, 

 without some preliminary knowledge of the subject 

 under consideration, expect to arrive at any definite 

 and trustworthy results. In short, to make any 

 progress in ' any one particular branch of science 

 would almost appear to depend necessarily upon a 

 previous advanced state of another corresponding 

 branch. I do not suppose any one will deny this ; 

 at any rate, it is a conviction that experience has 

 forced upon my mind. I was not so well acquainted 

 with Me. Geove's views when my Paper was pub- 

 lished as at the present time ; and, without wishing 

 to derogate from his well-earned reputation as an 

 experimentalist, I have no hesitation in saying, that 

 subsequent knowledge of the subject has only con- 

 vinced me more than ever of the justness of my first 

 opinion ; and I still believe that Faeaday's views will 

 be found to be by far the most philosophic. 



I may perhaps have omitted to notice the results 

 obtained by other investigators, which ought to 

 have been alluded to ; if so, I have to apologize for 

 the omission ; it has been unintentional. 1 have 

 not attempted to write a Treatise on the subject. 



