PLATE CXLIX. 



names fufficiently eftablifhed to be undcrllood by the generality of 

 colle6lors. Novelty, in this refpe^t, fhould be always regarded with 

 caution, becaufe at the leaft it is calculatetl to confufe and miflead, 

 and when it arifes from affeftation merely, becomes highly reprehen- 

 fible. Neither is it lefs injurious to the true purpofes of Science to 

 weaken the credit of approved opinions without ample reafon : the 

 hand of innovation may deftroy that which it cannot rebuild: vanity" 

 may injure that which it cannot repair ! With thefe impreflions con- 

 Hantly upon our mind, it has ever been our endeavour, on all occa- 

 fions, to improve upon rather than replant ,• and preceding authorities 

 we are inclined to believe, have been in general as feduloufly retained 

 by us when they appeared admifTible, as by mofl authors v/ho have 

 purfued the fame paths of enquiry as ourfelves. 



But in oppofing innovation we reft perfe61Iy affured that our en- 

 deavours have never degenerated into a pertinaceous refiftance againft 

 amendments, founded on the progrefTive increafe of knowledge. The 

 true interefls of fcience oftentimes demand both alterations and im* 

 provements, and when thefe appear evident, no authority, however 

 great, fliould in our opinion operate as a barrier againft their progrefs. 

 "We only wifli to inculcate, as an unerring principle, that in the fub- 

 verfion of the authority of thofe who have preceded us, we fhould 

 a6l with a cautious and unbiafTed mind, and with every inclination 

 to award that portion of credit, even to the opinions we difaute, to 

 which in candour they are entitled. 



We have infenfibly fallen into this train of curfoiy obfervation at 

 the commencement of our new Volume, from refle£ling generally 

 upon thofe differences of apmion -which are found to prevail in the 



minds 



1 



