private use, a latent desire insensibily occurred, to attempt, at some part of his life, to supply, for the service of others who should participate in these sentiments, what he found to be necessary for his own satisfaction. Gradually this wish increased into a more determining purpose, and has, as other motives concurred, produced the resolution in his mature age, of endeavouring, for the benefit of younger minds who may reason and feel as he did, to arrange and complete those contemplations and phenomena of the existing System of Nature, which have been so advantageous to the progress of his own mind, and so largely contributory to his personal happiness. It is a great gratification to think and read on these subjects. What has given more pleasure, to those who cultivate them on right principles, than Dr. PALEY'S intelligent work on Natural Theology? The Author cannot forget the enjoyment which he received from it on its first perusal.

To exhibit the Divine Mind in connexion with the production and preservation, and with the laws and agencies, of visible nature-and to lead the youthful Inquirer to perceive the clear and universal distinc

tion which prevails, between the Material and the Immaterial substances in our World, both in their phenomena and in their principles, are important objects in the following LETTERS. The views which Nature thus unfolds, harmonize with those which Revelation suggests, and seem to represent the true foundation of the Sacred History of our Globe.

If sufficient strength and opportunity should still accompany his remaining life, the Author desires to pursue this important subject, in that series of events and operations, which, after the renewal of mankind, became more immediately connected with their economy, condition, polities and destinies, under the present laws and state of their existence. It is among these we must act, and by their influences are principally formed; but all these are obeying a constant. tho invisible sovereignty, which is continually producing, amid every counteraction, a steady but gradual progression and melioration. Few question, now, this result, tho some may differ as to the cause. The operating cause will, however, become more manifest to our judgment, if we take the Sacred History of the World into our philosophical consideration.

As Nature will never be properly understood, if its creation by the Deity be excluded from the thought, -neither will Human history appear a rational or connected system, nor be found in harmony with the science which characterizes the laws of the material Universe, if the Sacred History which has accompanied our earthly subsistence, be omitted in our contemplation. It is this which gives purpose, order, causation, process, intelligence, and benevolence to the other. At least the present Author never understood, or duly appreciated, the ancient History of mankind, until he viewed it with this association, and had traced such of their mutual relations as he was enabled to discern. New light and intelligibility then spread over the whole, and made that a pleasing and useful study, which had been before a dissatisfying and barren one.

It is the great mistake of many eminent Philosophers on the Continent, that they systematically exclude the DEITY from all their reasonings on the formations and principles of things; and strive in vain to account for them rationally without Him. No failure seems to lead them to suppose, that they are

wandering in a bewildering darkness, from which they will never extricate themselves or their subject. By this purposed omission, they impede the progress of human science, by depriving it of the benefit which would accrue from their active minds, if these were wisely directed into the actual path of truth and light. Turning out of this, they give us, in their most elaborate efforts to supersede it, nothing but a succession of butterfly fancies, which amuse for a moment, and then expire and are forgotten. We have plenty of vague assertions and individual chimeras, but no deductions or suppositions that advance our knowlege, or satisfy our judgment; or that last beyond the meteors of the day. This defect is continually spoiling many of the most valuable minds in other countries, and deprives them of that durable reputation, which is yet their dearest hope; and which their researches and talents would, otherwise, far more certainly obtain. Nothing tends more to consign a Writer to oblivion, or to that future depreciation which is worse than to be forgotten, than to depart from the grand truth of Nature, and to set up idols and fallacies instead. No one

patronizes another's fantasies, however fondly he may cherish his own; and thus, if that fame, which is attended by the esteem and blessings of posterity, be our coveted delight, it will never be attained in Philosophy, if we desert its eternal and fundamental Verities. A steady adherence to these, will most surely procure, both personal immortality and national superiority.

If the British Empire keep its reasoning mind, firmly attached to the great Newtonian principle, of the Divine causation of all things, its men of science will always be in the foremost ranks of intellect, honor and celebrity.

To have any solicitude about criticism on the present Publication, would be absurd and unbecoming, on such a subject. Not a line has been written with any reference to human reputation; and if that had presented itself as the actuating motive to its composition, not a line ought to have been written, on the themes of this Work, for the purpose of obtaining it. But it is the duty of every Author, in all his publications, to execute every part with his best care and ability. He expects this attention from others,