⚠The image shows some foxing and staining, particularly on the right side of the page. Some text from the preceding page is visible in the gutter on the left but should be ignored per instructions.

TO THE READER.

It is well known that the current subject, which this eminent author discusses so elegantly, was until recently generally (though most unfairly) branded with the detestable name of poison original: "Poyson". This hatred original: "Odium" was cast upon it (as is shown in this book) in the days of the author; and perhaps, long before that time, it may have been condemned through the malice of idle theorists original: "Speculators".

For those men, who presume to be masters of all knowledge because they are book-learned original: "Letter-learned"; possessing theoretical knowledge from reading without practical experience in the theory of this or that art, without the slightest skill or will to exercise themselves in the actual practice original: "Practice" of it, must necessarily