PREFACE.

Kit

of truth. Strong powers of mind he unquestionably
 possessed; otherwise, he could
neither have produced the works which have
associated his name with the political measures

of the age, nor could he have inspired those
sentiments of admiration and deference, which
have been so warmly manifested by men, themselves
 of no common talents. It is probable,
however, that the excess of their admiration

has blinded them to his defects; that they have
been too much occupied with the excellence of
his speculations to note the errors by which
they are disfigured. It would be difficult, on
any other supposition, to account for the extravagant
 praises which have been heaped on
his Principles of Political Economy and Taxation.
 One of our most distinguished living
economists designates it as a “ work rivalling
the ¢ Wealth of Nations’ in importance, and
excelling it in profoundness and originality *.”

* A Disc. on Pol. Econ., by J. R. M:Culloch, Esq., p. 65.