Excerpt from Fragmentary Papers on Science and Other Subjects

In his 'Recollections of Past Life, ' my Father writes as follows: - 'There is little probability of my ever publishing again, but I shall leave behind me a volume of manuscript papers consigned to the care of my sons, to deal with as their judgment may suggest.' Reference is here made to certain short essays upon various subjects, which are enumerated in p. 330 of his 'Recollections of Past Life.' He describes them 'as the thoughts and speculations of former years, reduced into more definite form as regards the subjects, and studiously rendered as concise as possible.' And a little later on he speaks of them as written for possible publication: 'The papers thus denoted have furnished a very agreeable as well as salutary occupation for those leisure hours which in later years have been more largely at my disposal. But to bring them together, in shape and fitness for publication, would require a more laborious revision than I should probably be able to bestow.'

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