INTRODUCTION. THIS work was begun in 1865, continued as leisure served till 1877, and then privately printed for communication to a few friends. Any readers who may reach the last pages will find that it was intended only for posthumous publication; and till the end of 1884 no other was contemplated. I mention this because, had it been otherwise, it might have been somewhat differently written. But publication in the 85th year of a man's life comes rather near to posthumous publication; and, after a little revision, I have not found much difficulty in consenting to its present appearance. BOURNEMOUTH, March, 1885. |