PREFACE

A MONG the various pursuits which engage the attention, and occupy the tune, of the wiserpart of mankind, the acquisition of knowledge in Sciences and Arts justly claims pecu-liar regard; for, this knowledge imparts to its possessor so many advantages, and discovers to himso many sources of pleasure, that whatever application and labour he may employ in its cultiva-tion, he is amply repaid in the abundance and excellence of its fruits. But disappointment and mis-carriage must ever attend the slothful and indolent man, who vainly expects to be learned withoutthe actual exertion of his own natural powers, and the diligent exercise of those faculties by whicha stock of information may be collected, arranged, and prepared, according to the object of hispursuits: as well might we expect a plentiful crop without tilling the field, and sowing the grain,as that the mind should be stored with knowledge without making those efforts, and under-going that labour, by which it may be acquired.

The truth of this assertion cannot be controverted; its force remains, whatever helpsthe student may receive from the instruction of well-informed tutors, treatises on theSciences, or elucidations of the various authors he may consult; for these can neversupply the place of personal application. However, we are not from this to concludethat instructions, treatises, and elucidations, are of no importance; by no means. For since,under the most favourable circumstances, knowledge is not attainable without much personal andlong-continued application, how small a portion of it can even the most industrious acquire, ifunfortunately deprived of those directions which his learned predecessors, who have travelled inthe same path, may afford to guide and assist his rising genius. That he w'ho, unassisted,attempts to climb the hill of Science shall ultimately fail, will be evident, when it is observed,that the progress of the Sciences, whether considered in their first dawning, or at any otherparticular sera, when they began more distinctly to shed their lustre, has always been slowly progres-sive, struggling with the ignorance and prejudices of mankind, though different circumstanceshave undoubtedly contributed to their more speedy advances in one age than in another. Further,it is principally to be ascribed to the successive and insulated discoveries made by the welldirected researches of individuals, that Science is indebted for her near approaches to per-fection: and it is the collection of those discoveries, made in various ages and nations, whichforms the materials and instruments of Science; and carries the learned to such heights as theycould not, without such aid, have ever hoped to attain. By this means the student’s labour is sofar spared; for these materials have been sought out and collected without his knowledge or in-dustry, and have been placed before him in different points of view for his inspection; and vari-ously classed to lead him more regularly through the course of his investigations; thus, theadvantages he may reap from the labours of others are immense; and without them, even afterhis utmost efforts, the result must be failure and disappointment.

Though it must be granted that the assistance afforded by treatises and verbal instruc-tions is totally inadequate tor the purpose of radical instruction, while our own powers re-main inactive; yet when these are fully employed, and strenuously exerted under the steadydirection and cheering influence of the luminous rays of Science, already, so' abundantlydispersed by means of the progressive and accumulated labours of the learned world; maywe not reasonably expect that while the dark shades of ignorance are banished, the mind will beproportionably furnished and enriched with the resplendent treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge?

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