1 most confiderable Effays, the novelty of idea they may poffibly contain, was regarded with a kind of complacence by the author, even when it was treated with fupercilious inattention in its firft communication. It is very poffible, in thefe inftances, that the public may espouse the party of the original auditor, and not of the author. Wherever that shall be strikingly the case, the complacence he mentions will be radically affected. An opinion peculiar to a fingle individual, must be expected, to that individual to appear pregnant with dissatis faction and uncertainty. From what has been faid the humble pretenfions of the contents of the present voluine are fufficiently obvious. They are prefented to the contemplative reader, not as dicta, but as the materials of thinking. They are committed to his mercy. In themselves they are trivial; the hints of enquiry rather than actual enquiries: but hereafter perhaps they may be taken under other men's protection, and cherished to maturity. The utmost that was here propofed, was to give, if poffible, a certain perfpicuity 7 A perfpicuity and confiftency to each detached member of enquiry. Truth was the object principally regarded; and the author endeavoured to banifh from his mind every modification of prepoffeffion and prejudice. There is one thought more he is defirous to communicate; and it may not impro-. perly find a place in this Preface. It relates to the French Revolution; that inexhauftible source of meditation to the reflecting and inquifitive. While the principles of Gallic republicanifm were yet in their infancy, the friends of innovation were fomewhat too imperious in their tone. Their minds were in a state of exaltation and ferment. They were too impatient and impetuous. There was fomething in their fternness that favoured of barbarism. The barbarifm of our adverfaries was no adequate excufe for this. The equable and independent mind fhould not be diverted from its bias by the errors of the enemy with whom it may have to contend. The author confeffes that he did not escape the contagion. Those who ranged themselves themselves on the fame party, have now moderated their intemperance, and he has accompanied them also in their present stage. With as ardent a paffion for innovation as ever, he feels himself more patient and tranquil. He is defirous of affifting others, if poffible, in perfecting the melioration of their temper. There are many things dif cuffed in the following Effays, upon which perhaps, in the effervefcence of his zeal, he would have difdained to have written. But he is perfuaded that the cause of political reform, and the caufe of intellectual and literary refinement, are infeparably connected. He has alfo defcended in his inveftigations into the humbler walks of private life. He ardently defires that those who shall be active in promoting the cause of reform, may be found amiable in their perfonal manners, and even attached to the cultivation of miscellaneous enquiries. He believes that this will afford the beft fecurity, for our preferving kindness and univerfal philanthropy, in the midft of the operations of our justice. LONDON, February 4, 1797 I. OF Awakening the Mind V. Of an Early. Tafte for Reading IX. Of the Communication of Knowledge X. Of Cohabitation Page 7 12, 19 29 .*36 56 65 76 86 XI. Of Reasoning and Contention 94 XII. Of Deception and Frankness XIII. Of Manly Treatment and Behaviour XIV. Of the Obtaining of Confidence XV. Of Choice in Reading 129 |