It is not without much diffidence, that 1 have ventured to lay before the public a work on this important subject. That something of this so1t was needed, has long been universally confessed. My professional duty led me to undertake it; and I trust that the hope of usefulness has in duced me to prepare it for publication. If I have not been so happy as to elucidate truth, have endeavored to express myself in such a manner, that the reader shall have as little trou ble as possible in detecting my errors. And if it shall be found, that I have thrown any light whatever upon the science of human. Duty, I shall have unspeakable cause for gratitude to that Spirit, whose insplratlon alone teacheth man um derstanding. And my cause for gratitude will scarcely be less, should my failure incite some one, better able than myself to do justice to the subject, to a more successful undertaking.