1821 April 20

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

A summary view or outline of a work may be taken and stretched out

given either before or after completion: in the former first 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, correctrrectness,

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 difficulty 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.