PREFACE
39
stories of the kind mentioned. He found—as usual where it is not our business to search—he found nothing. This is indeed by itself a sufficient reason for writing a book; but add to this what has many a time wrung books from modest authors, the impetuous appeals from known and unknown friends. Moreover, he had bought a big work,[1] and, what is worse, had read it, and this labour was not to be thrown away. Thence originated the present treatise, which, we flatter ourselves, will fully satisfy the reader ; for the main part he will not understand, another part he will not believe, and the rest he will laugh at.
- ↑ This refers to his purchase of Swedenborg's Arcana. See quotation from Hoar, in foot-note on page 14.
