them to penetrate into the deepest recesses of the heart, and to unfold all its secret springs, I propose to extend my enquiries as far as possible; yet I mean to advance nothing but what is clear, and calculated to inform. The sciences indeed require their truth to be establilhed by deep investigation: every candid philosopher will however acknowledge, that the most abstract reasoning never struck out any useful discovery, which was not almost instantly adopted by the plain understanding of all, who were not bewildered by systems, or blinded by prejudice. The first duty of an author is to be intelligible, the next to be explicit. If a first-rate genius is thought entitled to diffuse opinions which require explanation, a claim to such a privilege must appear ridiculous when supported only by the desire of singularity. Though resolved to confine myself to general observations, yet I perceive that the extensiveness and difficulty of this arduous task will render it impossible for me completely to define its nature, or to point out its precise limits. Both admitting of considerable alterations, there is no part of this attempt to be ascertained, except the defects it will doubtless exhibit. Independent of a still more important object, various occupations will, it is hoped, plead for the imperfections of the performance.
I cannot lay down the pen, without replying to one of the principal objections against elegant learning; an objection which has already been mentioned in alluding to those who consider Polite Literature as useless, and even pernicious to society.
They
