BY JAMES DUNCAN, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND SOLD BY J. A. HESSEY, FLEET STREET, AND HATCHARD AND SON, PICCADILLY. 1827. Χρυσὸν οἱ διζήμενοι, φησὶν Ηράκλειτος, γῆν πολλὴν ὀρισ σουσι, καὶ εὑρίσκουσιν ὀλίγον. Clem. Alex. Strom. IV. 2. p. 565. As young men, when they knit and shape perfectly, do seldom grow to a further stature; so knowledge, while it is in aphorisms and observations, it is in growth; but when it once is comprehended in exact methods, it may perchance be further polished and illustrated, and accommodated for use and practice; but it increaseth no more in bulk and substance. Bacon, Advancem, of Learn. B. 1. TO THE READER. I HERE present you with a few suggestions, the fruits, alas! of much idleness. Such of them as are distinguished by some capital letter, I have borrowed from my acuter friends. My own are little more than glimmerings, I had almost said, dreams of thought: not a word in them is to be taken on trust. If then I am addressing one of that numerous class which reads to be told what to think, let me advise you to meddle with the book no further. You wish to buy a house ready furnished; do not come to look for it in a stone-quarry. But if you are building up your opinions for yourself, and want only to be provided with materials, you may in these pages meet with many things to suit you. Do not despise them for their want of name and show rather remember what the old author |