Circumstances of writing this book

The severity of criticism is seldom abated in consideration of the circumstances under which a work is produced; yet should it be objected that some parts of this Volume are unequal, the author can plead in excuse, that the whole has been written in a carriage during his professional journeys from one place to another, and being seldom more than three days together in the same place, the difficulty of producing this Volume, such as it is, can hardly be conceived by those who enjoy the blessings of stationary retirement, or a permanent home.