ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR.
Of Mr. Stewart's historical Dissertation on the progress of Philosophy, there are two editions; which being both prepared with the participation of the Author, must, consequently, both be consulted by an Editor in the constitution of a comprehensive and authoritative text. In both also the Dissertation is prefixed to re-impressions of the Encyclopædia Britannica; for the right has not hitherto been exercised of publishing it separately, or in a collection of Mr. Stewart's writings.
The First Part of the Dissertation originally appeared in 1815; the Second Part, in 1821, The two were reprinted continuously in a second edition several years subsequently, and stereotyped. The editions are substantially identical; but in the second there are found a few additions, and at least two omissions, (pp. 201, 613.) The present volume is printed from the second edition, collated, however, with the first. The omitted passages have been reinstated, but explicitly distinguished; it has not, however, been thought necessary to discriminate the printed additions.—So much as to the published sources; it is now requisite to add somewhat in regard to the unpublished.
