Just published, by R. W. Pomeroy, ESSAYS ON THE FORMATION AND PUBLICATION OF OPINIONS, AND OTHER SUBJECTS. 1 vol. 12mo. ALSO, By the same Author, ESSAYS ON THE PURSUIT OF TRUTH, ON THE PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE, AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF ALL EVIDENCE AND EXPECTATION. 1 vol. 12mo. "If a man could be offered the paternity of any comparatively modern book that he chose, he would not hazard much by deciding, that next after the 'Wealth of Nations,' he would request to be honoured with a relationship to the 'Essays on the Formation and Publication of Opinions.' It would have been a glorious thing to have been the father of the mathematics of grown gentlemen-to have saved nations from fraud, by inventing the science of detecting the pillage of the few upon the manybut next to this, it would have been a pleasant and honourable memory, to have written a book so totus teres atque rotundus, so finished in its parts, and so perfect in their union, as 'Essays on the Formation of Opinions.' Like one of the great statues of antiquity, it might have been broken into fragments, and each separated limb would have pointed to the existence of some interesting whole, of which the value might be surmised from the beauty of the specimen." Westminster Review. Speaking of the Essays on the Pursuit of Truth, the same Review says, "Another book from the same author must have a powerful claim to the attention of those who have been delighted with the first. It is in fact but a prolongation of the other; or relates to subjects so closely joined, that it may be a question whether the two make two existences, or one." ON THE FORMATION AND PUBLICATION OF OPINIONS, AND ON OTHER SUBJECTS. Briley From the last London Edition. PHILADELPHIA-R. W. POMEROY. A. WALDIE, PRINTER. BH £15 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. It has been frequently objected to metaphysical speculations, that they subserve no useful purpose; and it must be allowed, that there are many inquiries in this department of intellectual exertion, which lead, in appearance, and even in reality, to no practical result. This is however a defect inherent in every pursuit, and can be brought as no specific objection against the philosophy of mind. How many substances are analysed by the chemist, which can never be rendered useful; how many plants are minutely described by the naturalist, which might have remained in obscurity without the least possible detriment to the world; and how many events are narrated by the historian, from which no beneficial inference can be drawn! It seems to be a necessary condition of human science, that we should learn many useless things, in order |