lent origin and purpose, nor do Institutions for the promotion of education, partake sufficiently of an eleemosynary character, to come strictly under the above head. In short, what is benevolent is not always charitable, though what is charitable, is, on the face of it, always benevolent.
I fear that many defects will be found in the arrangement of the work. Some of them are to be ascribed to the inherent difficulty of classifying subjects, not always easily distinguishable in their character. For the rest, I must entreat the indulgence of the reader, both for the reasons already offered, and on account of the impracticability of obtaining i this country, the assistance of experience in adapting any literary attempt for publication.
In whatever quarter I have applied for in formation or assistance, I gratefully acknowledge that I have found an uniform readiness to oblige me. It is incumbent on me, however, specifically to avow my obligation to the scientific friend, who not only furnished me with three of the Drawings which embellish this volume, but kindly undertook to superintend the multiplication of the requisite number of Copies of all the Designs, by means of Lithography.
