PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

THE nature of the work precludes us from the attempt to supply those deficiencies which some of our critics, in no unfriendly or unjust spirit, have pointed out. Where the omission or addition of a few words, or sentences, would render the meaning of any of the speakers more distinct, we have not scrupled to make the alteration. We have endeavoured also, by a very legitimate transposition of some paragraphs and by cancelling others, somewhat to abridge that latter portion of the book, which, being of a psychological character, has been naturally complained of for its dryness. We wish it were in our power, in other respects, to render the work more acceptable to the reader, and more worthy of his perusal.

W. S.

AUGUST 1858.