PREFACE. THE GREATER NUMBER of the studies' contained in the present volume originally appeared in the shape of contributions to periodicals. Other portions of them are now published for the first time. As regards the reprints, if an apology seems required for their reappearance, the following may perhaps be accepted as sufficient, from the pen of the late JOHN STUART MILL: 'The republication, in a more durable form, of papers originally contributed to periodicals, has grown into so common a practice as scarcely to need an apology; and I follow this practice the more willingly, as I hold it to be decidedly a beneficial one. It would be well if all frequent writers in periodicals looked forward, as far as the case admitted, to this reappearance of their productions. The prospect might be some guarantee against the crudity in the formation of opinions, and carelessness in their expression, which are the besetting sins of writings put forth under the screen of anonymousness, to be read only during the next few weeks or months, if so long, and the defects of which it is seldom probable that anyone will think it worth while to expose.'-Preface to DISSERTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.' |