could not be laid open without exposing truths, that might have an air of invidiousness or detraction.

SOME friends of mine, to whom I communicated my doubts, agreed with me, that there are faults which cannot innocentlybe revealed, where their manifestation may be attended with some greater evil, butthat it could not be right to rank amongthe faults to be spared any error in an art, where one single false idea, suffered to subsist, may prove the occasion of wounds or torturous death to thousands. On the contrary, the due knowledge of faults of this nature is, in fact, a public benefit. They serve, as one may say, for beacons to the art, they hold a light to it, and show it the rocks it should avoid.

IT is certain then, that I have not the least intention to attack any particular persons, any farther than in what I conceive to be false theory, or mispractice in the art I profess; I hope then it will not be imputed to me as unfair or over-presumptuous, if I especially do not over-respect