X 
PREFACE. 
in so doings sought the aid of the most esteemed authorities 
upon the subject, pre-eminently among these the Rev. E. 
Bersier, of whose valuable 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 public 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. 
