ORIGIN OF THIS BOOK. V 



modes of expression than three subjects,) than almost 

 any other that can be named. But a future oppor- 

 tunity may occur for explaining its nature ; and the 

 fact of its existence is all that is essential in the 

 mean time. 



For a considerable time, the conviction of this ten- 

 dency that the books which are usually put into the 

 hands of young persons, have to lull the desire for 

 knowledge, remained with me as one of those subjects 

 which we regret whenever we think about, but do 

 not take steps for its removal. But, when another of 

 those sets of revolutions (to which men more occupied 

 in acquiring the knowledge of things than the things 

 themselves, are subject) which have little interest for 

 the public generally, and which therefore need not be 

 mentioned, had led me to the writing of books— when 

 I found that the public, and its grand organ the press, 

 welcomed me with a degree of approbation which 

 astonished me as much as the prophecy that I should 

 become an author would have done twenty years pre- 

 viously—and more especially, when I found that the 

 favour and commendation which I thus received were 

 grounded upon that character of my writings, which 

 was in accordance with this conviction, of the pro- 

 gress and proof of which I have given an outline ; 

 — when I was thus situated, and thus pleasantly 

 schooled into more confidence in my conviction, I 

 could hardly refrain from wishing to act further 

 upon it. 



The result was, a resolution to prepare a series 

 of elementary books, upon all the more useful 

 branches of knowledge, so framed that there should 

 not be any task-work in them ; and yet each explain- 

 ing the broad principles of its subject in such a man- 

 ner as to increase the quantity of knowledge, and at 



