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L. S.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty second day of May, in the fifty-first year of the Independence of the United States of America, Russel Canfield, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"The Light of Truth, and Pleasure of Light, in four Books. Great is Truth, and it shall prevail."

In conformity to the act of Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned,”—And also to the act, entitled, "An act supplementary to an act, entitled 'An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

CHAS. A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut.

A true copy of Record, examined and sealed by me,

CHAS. A. INGERSOLL,

Clerk of the District of Connecticut.

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EDITORIAL ADDRESS.

When the subscriber undertook the printing of this volume for the publisher, he contemplated no higher duty, and no greater responsibility, than that attached to the labours of an editor. Circumstances, however, not within his control, brought into requisition his powers as an author, and that under very unfavoura ble auspices. For error in principle, he asks no quarter; but he is confident in the belief, that the mantle of charity will be spread over those defects of arrangement and style which are almost inseparable from a hasty production. Had time and health permitted, the arrangement and classification of facts and arguments might have been more judiciously made, but he is thankful that no material error in the detail of facts, and no important defect in the deductions from those facts, has yet been discovered.

The extent of authorship for which the editor is specially responsible, is principally designated in the captions to the various sections. As different authors have furnished the principal portion of the several books, original matter was sometimes required to form the connecting links in the chain of facts and consequences. To designate this matter, is deemed superfluous.

Whatever may be the impression of those who are utterly unable to judge correctly, for want of data; certain it is, that few could be induced to come out with arguments against a popular doctrine, unless supported by good testimony. That the evidence on which we oppose the common doctrines is valid, is shown by the fears and tergiversations of our oppo

nents, gendered by their fears. They feel the weight of our obvious conclusions, and dread the power which will finally crush their idols into the dust.

While many hope their own belief is founded in a lie, the shackles of superstition hang over them like an incubus, portending death. Their ghostly advisers admonish them to doubt the certainty of their reason, and the testimony of their senses, and they often give themselves up to the guidance of self-commissioned soul savers, for want of moral courage to resist.

The editor takes this opportunity of commending his labours, such as they are, to the kind providence of God, and the attention of his fellow men, in the full belief, that whoever reads with a desire to know the truth, will reap a due reward for his labours. RUSSEL CANFIELD.

Hartford, May, 1827.

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