none of his readers should be able to derive either entertainment or information from the following sheets, he has the satisfaction of reflecting, that he himself derived both from the labour of preparing them for the press.

Though the greater part of this work consists of compilation; yet the writer claims to be something more than a mere compiler. He has offered, where he thought proper, opinions, reflections, and reasonings of his own; and though many of these are adopted, perhaps too hastily, from others, there are some of which all the praise and all the blame belong to himself. He is not, however, solicitous to discriminate, even if it were possible, between these several parts of the work. If the exhibition of facts and opinions, so far as it goes, be tolerably just, the question whence they originated is of little consequence to the reader.

With respect to the division and arrangement of the subjects, it was judged advisable to adopt rather a popular than a scientific plan. This plan is, no doubt, liable to some objections; but it appeared better suited to the purpose in view than any other that presented. The reader will observe that the sciences of Theology, Morals, and Politics are not noticed in this first Part. The reason of the omission is, that it appeared most proper to leave what may be said concerning the revolutions and improvements in these three interesting departments of science, respectively, to stand as preliminaries to the three remaining divisions of the work, in which some account will be attempted of the great events in the Christian Church, in the Moral World, and in Political Principles and Establishments, during the last century. It was supposed that in this connection the rise, progress, and in

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fluence of new systems, and modes of thinking, might be exhibited with greater advantage, and perused with more satisfaction.

As the author aimed at nothing more than a brief retrospect of the period to which this work is devoted, it was impossible for him to do more, consistently with his plan, than to mention the principal discoveries, inventions, improvements and writers, under each head; and even these could only be noticed with great brevity, and in very general terms. To have attempted minute details, and particular explanations, would have extended the work to many volumes. With respect to the choice which has been made of facts and names, the degree of importance ascribed to them, and the proportion of room and attention allotted to each, different readers will, no doubt, entertain different opinions. Every one will be apt to suppose that the particular names and studies to which he is most attached, are not noticed with sufficient respect, or dwelt upon at sufficient length. The author can only say, that, in general, he indulged in more or less prolixity, according to his ideas of the importance of the several subjects, the extent of his acquaintance with them, or the degree in which they interested his own mind. That from such a multiplicity of objects, he often selected' injudiciously, and made an erroneous estimate of their comparative value, is altogether probable.

Although the very nature of the work required that all the subjects brought into view should be treated superficially, and that nothing more than rapid outlines should be attempted; yet the intelligent reader will, doubtless, discern, that the mode of treating some of the subjects manifests a very small and partial acquaintance with them. For the

want of more just and enlarged views, the author fears he has often written in a crude and unsatisfactory manner on topics which, in the same compass, might have been better discussed. In some instances, however, he has failed of giving a more satisfactory account of the additions made to science, by distinguished individuals, from another cause: Where it would have been impossible to state the precise limits of what each has done to advance our knowledge of a particular subject, without going into a discussion of many pages, little more is frequently attempted than to give a list of the names of those individuals, on the presumption that the inquisitive reader will seek for a more full account of their respective claims elsewhere.

It will not be supposed that the author has attentively read all the works concerning which he delivers opinions. Some of them he never saw, and has ventured to give their character entirely on the authority of those whom he considers better judges than himself. Many he has seen and consulted, with more or less attention, as his avocations allowed. It is only a small part which he can claim the honour of having read and studied with care. It is probable, however, that he might have spared himself the trouble of making this confession; symptoms of superficial reading, or of striking unacquaintance with many works of which he speaks, will, no doubt, be often discovered.

In enumerating the principal writers on the various subjects reviewed, it will be observed that those who have written in the English language engage the largest share of the author's attention. The reason of this is obvious; he is best acquainted with such writers; and from his ig

norance of most of the languages of the continent of Europe, he has probably failed of mentioning many works quite as worthy of respectful notice as others on which he has bestowed high praise. Perhaps a still more formal apology will be deemed necessary for the disposition to introduce American writers and publications, even of moderate character, which he has so frequently discovered. But besides indulging a natural partiality for his own country, which is at least pardonable, he was desirous of collecting and exhibiting as much information on the subject of American literature as the nature of his undertaking admitted. And as no attempt to give a general historical view of this subject has ever been before made; as a considerable portion even of the humble and meagre records from which he has drawn his materials, are daily perishing; and as peculiar circumstances sometimes give to literary characters and events a relative importance, beyond their absolute value, he thought it advisable to take notice of more obscure names, and of smaller publications, than could with propriety have been mentioned in countries of a more mature literary character. Perhaps, however, in his zeal to collect every thing he could find on this subject, he has sometimes descended too low.

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Should any reader be offended by the language of panegyric which is frequently bestowed on the intellectual and scientific endowments of some distinguished abettors of heresy or of infidelity, he is entreated to remember that justice is due to all men. A man who is a bad Christian may be a very excellent mathematician, astronomer, or chemist; and one who denies and blasphemes the Saviour may write profoundly and instructively on some branches of science highly interesting to

mankind. It is proper to commiserate the mistakes of such persons, to abhor their blasphemy, and to warn men against their fatal delusions; but it is surely difficult to see either the justice or utility of withholding from them that praise of genius or of learning to which they are fairly entitled.

It will probably be remarked, by the intelligent reader, that a due proportion between the parts of this work, according to the relative importance and extent of each subject, is not always preserved. Had the manuscript been completed before any part of it was sent to the press, faults of this kind would, no doubt, have been, in some degree, avoided; but the truth is, that the first pages of the manuscript were put into the hands of the printer before a single chapter of the work had been fully written; and each successive sheet was prepared, from the materials previously collected, at the call of the printer, and amidst the hurry of incessant professional labours. It is scarcely necessary to add, that this race with the press frequently rendered impossible that laborious investigation, and that careful correction which were highly desirable: nor could the author excuse himself for conduct so manifestly indiscreet, had he duly considered beforehand the nature and magnitude of the engagement. But it must be acknowledged, that as he entered on the work without duly appreciating the arduousness of his undertaking, so every step in the pursuit convinced him more and more of its extent and difficulty; that in the prosecution of his task he wished an hundred times he had never undertaken it; and that now it is brought to a close, few readers can be more sensible than he is himself of its numerous and great defects.