X 



PREFACE. 



in so doing, souglifc tlie aid of tlie most esteemed anthorities 

 upon the subject, pre-eminently among these the Eev. E. 

 Bersier, of whose vakiable arguments he gave an admirable 

 translation, and by whose permission the Council has been 

 enabled to include the lecture, arranged as a paper^ in the 

 present volume. 



Whilst upon this subject, it seems desirable to draw atten- 

 tion to the numerous and increasing number of works now 

 being written by unknown authors, and containing crude and 

 often exploded ideas upon subjects such as the most learned 

 ever approach with diffidence : the pubHc injury done by such 

 works can scarce be over-estimated. These considerations 

 not only indicate the importance of carefully considered 

 publications, such as those of the Victoria Institute, but 

 amply warrant the Council in having increased the strictness 

 of the rules under which any papers are now published by the 

 Society, and in being _ careful that all special points of 

 importance therein not taken up in the discussions, are dealt 

 with in special communications, such as those which conclude 

 the first and last papers in the present volume. 



F. PETRIE, 



Hon, Sec. and Editor, 



December 31st, 1873. 



