JB_036_003_001.xml

Title: [1821. April 20. First Lines]

Description: 1821. April 20.

First Lines

(3).

Preface.

Neither in the work at large, nor in this skeleton of

it, can any degree of imperfection foresent an adequate reason

for the suppression of it. In either each case, publication has

its justifying cause if on this same subject no other work of the sort has ever yet

appeared, or no other work less imperfect has yet appeared.

036_002.xml

Title: [[xxxvi. 2] 1821. April 20.]

Description: [xxxvi. 2]

1821. April 20.

First Lines

Preface

As a standard /In the character of an object or/ of reference, the work at large, if compleated, may be found of use, in the whole or in part, to one or other of three purposes - adoption, avoidance, or amendment.

To these same purposes may even this imperfect and inadequate sketch be found of use according to the extent of it, and according to the measure of its aptitude.

By this or that readr, some of the topics will be found too copiously treated of; others, too scantily: some that will have been looked for will not be found.

In regard to such of the topics as have been treated of in the Author's former works, published and unpublished together, whatever facility may have been afforded, much perplexity was mixed with it: what to notice, what to leave unnoticed: of that which is noticed, what to notice by reference only, what by quotation, what by abridgement: where views have altered what to amend, what to leave unamended.

To this or that reader, where details have been omitted, the general matter may thus have been rendered incomprehensible or at least obscure. Had these details been given, the sketch would, instead of being a sketch by anticipation, have been so far the work at large.

A passage which, to the bulk of readers, may have appeared /appear/ incomprehensible or obscure, may, to one or other of the three purposes abovementioned, be found serviceable /of use/ by him who shall sit down to the perusal of it with the eye of a legislator. This, if it has any, will be in its principal use.

Of the vast field over the whole of which it was necessary that, for the purpose of this sketch, the eye of the author should for this purpose carry itself, some parts there are /may be found/ to which it had not till now applied itself. In regard to these, how much greater the degree of imperfection will naturally be is obvious.

036_001.xml

Title: [[xxxvi. 1] 1821 April 20 First]

Description: [xxxvi. 1]

1821 April 20

First Lines

Preface

Not usd by me. R. Doane Apr l. 1840

A summary view or outline of a work may be taken /sketched out/ and given either before or after completion: in the first /former/ case it is a view by anticipation, in the latter case an abridgement.

In comparison of the abridgement, great are the disadvantages under which a view by anticipation, has to labour: clearness, correctness, completeness, conciseness - on all these essential points, it cannot but be to an indefinite degree inferior and deficient.

If such be the disadvantage in the case of a work on any ordinary subject, how much greater it cannot but be in the case of a work without example on a subject of a nature at once so extensive and so important may be left to imagination to conceive.

Then why set about to compose it and if composed why publish it?

Answer. The greater the extent and dificulty of the work at large the greater the uncertainty whether, especially at his time of life, the author, would be able to render it in his own eyes, with reference to the design by which he was guided in the course of it, any thing like complete: In any part of that course, supposing him stopt by death and infirmity, but for such all-comprehensive howsoever imperfect[?] sketch the design would remain uncompleted, the remainder unconjecturable.