IT is not intended to detain the Reader by a long Preface. If the Work submitted to his notice be worthy of approbation, it will be conceded without solicitation ; if not, the Author would disdain to seek from favour that which justice should deny. With regard to the assistance which he has received from friends and others, all such instances are noticed, as he hopes, with a proper sense of gratitude, in the several pages where they occur. His opinions throughout have been expressed freely and conscientiously, but without bigotry; since he is very ready to acknowledge the weakness of human judgment, and will be as anxious to retract an error, as he would be averse to supporting any doctrine or position from interested and selfish motives. He has long wished to