You  perceive,  gentlemen,  that  I  am  going  into
the  merits  of  this  publication,  before  I  apply  my-
self to  the  question  which  is  first  in  order  of  time,
namely,  whether  tlie  publication  in  point  of  fact,
is  to  be  ascribed  to  Mr.  Rowan  or  not.  I  have
been  unintentionally  led  into  this  violation  of  or-
der


158

def.  I  should  effect  no  purpose  of  either  brevity
or  d^imessy  by  returning  to  the  more  methodi-
cal course  of  observation.  I  have  been  natural-
ly drawn  from  it  by  the  superior  importance  of
the  topic  I  am  upoA,  yamely,  the  merit  of  the
publication  in  question.
