INTRODUCTION. 19 



to ascertain ; I tried hard to draw him in 1880, but 

 could get nothing out of him. If, again, any of our 

 more influential writers, not a few of whom evidently 

 think on this matter much as I do, would eschew 

 ambiguities and tell us what they mean in plain 

 languase, I would let the matter rest in their abler 

 hands, but of this there does not seem much chance 

 at present. 



I wish there was, for in spite of the interest I have 

 felt in working the theory out and the information I 

 have been able to collect while doing so, I must con- 

 fess that I have found it somewhat of a white elephant. 

 It has got me into the hottest of hot water, made a 

 literary Ishmael of me, lost me friends whom I have 

 been very sorry to lose, cost me a good deal of money, 

 done everything to me, in fact, which a good theory 

 ought not to do. Still, as it seems to have taken up 

 with me, and no one else is inclined to treat it fairly, 

 I shall continue to report its developments from time 

 to time as long as life and health are spared me. 

 Moreover, Ishmaels are not without their uses, and 

 they are not a drug in the market just now. 



I may now go on to Mr. Spencer, 



