TO

SIR DAVID BREWSTER,

K.H. D.C.I., F.R.S. V.P.R.S., EDINBURGH, MEMBRR OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, AND PRINCIPAL OF ST I.EONARD’S COLLEGE, ST ANDREWS.

MY DEAR SIR DAVID,

I DEDICATE this Volume to you with sincere pleasure. Through your kindness I was enabled, while engaged in its composition, to have beside me certain volumes which otherwise I would have had great difficulty in procuring in my retirement in the country. I am glad to have such an opportunity of acknowledging this favour, as well as of expressing my grateful sense of the hearty interest which you have always taken in my studies, and my conviction of the cordiality with which you are always ready to respond to any demands on your literary sympathy, and to lend your encouragement to studious aspiration.

I feel, moreover, that I can, with peculiar fitness, dedicate to you the attempt which is made in this Volume to trace some portion of the Divine meaning everywhere inscribed on Nature, and illustrated by the progress of Scientific Discovery. However imperfect this attempt may be, I am sure that it is one which will warmly engage your regard.

Allow me to express the hope that you may be long spared to adorn our ancient University, on which your name and distinguished labours in science and literature have already conferred so much lustre.

I have the honour to be,

MY DEAR SIR DAVID,

Yours faithfully,

JOHN TULLOCH.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE,

ST ANDREWS.