i.] INTRODUCTORY. 3 



sustained effort, need not feel much regret that the 

 road to be travelled over is indirect, and does not 

 admit of being mapped beforehand in a way they can 

 clearly understand. It is full of interest of its own. 

 It familiarizes us with the measurement of variability, 

 and with curious laws of chance that apply to a vast 

 diversity of social subjects. This part of the inquiry 

 may be said to run along a road on a high level, 

 that affords wide views in unexpected directions, and 

 from which easy descents may be made to totally 

 different goals to those we have now to reach. I have 

 a great subject to write upon, but feel keenly my 

 literary incapacity to make it easily intelligible without 

 sacrificing accuracy and thoroughness. 



B 2 



