THE Committee of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful
Knowledge are desirous of explaining the degree of superintend-
ence which they think that they ought to exercise with respect to
this publication.
It will of course be their duty not to sanction anything incon-
sistent with the general principles of the Society. Subject, however,
to this general superintendence, they feel that the objects of the
Society will be better forwarded by placing before the readers of
this work the sentiments of able and liberal men, and thus enabling
them to form their own conclusions, as well from the difference as
from the agreement of the writers, than by proposing to them, as
if from authority, any fixed rule of judgment, or one uniform set of
opinions. It would also be inconsistent with the respect which the
Committee entertain for the persons engaged in the preparation of
these papers, were they to require them strictly to submit their
own opinions to any rule that should be prescribed to them. If,
therefore, the general effect of a paper be favourable to the objects
of the Society, the Committee will feel themselves at liberty to
direct its publication: the details must be the author's alone, and
the opinions expressed on each particular question must be con-
sidered as his, and not those of the Committee. As they do not
profess to make themselves answerable for the details of each par-
ticular essay, they cannot, of course, undertake for the exact con-
formity of the representations which different authors may make of
the same facts; nor, indeed, do they, for the reasons already given,
feel that such conformity is requisite.
By Order of the Committee,
THOMAS COATES, Secretary.