Situated, as I happily am, in the neighbourhood of the New College atHackney, an institution that does honour to the Dissenters, aninstitution open to all persons without distinction[1],and connected as I am by friendship with the tutors, I was glad to giveit every assistance in my power; and therefore undertook to read theLectures on History and General Policy which I had composed when I wastutor at Warrington, and also to give another course on the subject ofExperimental Philosophy. With this view I drew up the following Headsof Lectures; and, to save the students the trouble of transcribingthem, they are[Pg iv]now printed. To other persons they may serve as a compendious view ofthe most important discoveries relating to the subject.
As it was found most convenient, with respect to the other business ofthe college, to confine this course to one lecture in a week, Icontrived to bring within that compass as much of the subject ofexperimental philosophy as I well could, and especially to include thewhole of what is called chemistry, to which so much attention is nowgiven, and which presents so many new fields of philosophicalinvestigation.
Besides that the plan of the young gentlemen's studies would not admitof it, I think it most advisable not to trouble beginners with more thana large outline of any branch of science. By this means they are notfatigued by too long an attention to any one subject, a greater varietyof articles[Pg v]may be brought before them, and in future life they may pursue any ofthem as much farther as their inclination may dispose, and their abilityand opportunity shall enable, them to do it.
I do not give any account of the experiments introduced into theseveral lectures. They will be sufficiently indicated by the subjects ofthem. They were as many as I could conveniently make within the time;and where the experiments themselves could not be made, I usuallyexhibited both the different substances employed in them, and those thatwere the result of them.
As these lectures were calculated for the use of the students at the NewCollege, I prefix an Address to them, the same in substance with thatwhich I delivered to them at the close of the session of 1791. In it maybe seen a specimen of the language we hold to them on the subject ofpolitics, which with reasonable men will serve as an[Pg vi]answer to the many calumnies that have been thrown out against us, asdisaffected to the government of this country.
Such institutions will, indeed, always be objects of hatred and dread tobigots and the advocates for arbitrary power, but the pride of atruly free country. I therefore conclude with my earnest prayer (theaccomplishment of which the present state of the College does not allowus to doubt) Esto perpetua.