Every man should be suffered to depart in peace.
Now, it is my intention to adopt the Irish definition.

The word preface is a misnomer.

What I have to say I shall put into my last chapter, and assign to it its proper place.

I shall also adopt another improvement, on the usual practice.

I shall make it as short as possible, and speak to the point.
My intention then, gentle reader, was when I commenced this work, to write but one volume, and at some future time to publish a second.
The materials, however, were so abundant, that selection became very difficult, and compression much more so.