Unsoundness of mind considered in relation to the question of responsibility for criminal acts / by Samuel Knaggs.

  • Knaggs, Samuel, 1829-1911.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Unsoundness of mind considered in relation to the question of responsibility for criminal acts / by Samuel Knaggs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. Most authors, I imagine, regard the introduction of the firstfruits of their pen to public notice with feelings akin to timidity: they are apt to view with too much self-complacency the literary edifice, as it grows up into fair proportions beneath their daily superintendence; they dread the shock of hostile criticism, which may dash down and crumble into dust their fondest and most cherished antici- pations, and the fear they experience is exalted in proportion as the sense of the worth of their per- formance is developed in themselves. The author of this Essay wishes for no other merit than that of presenting a correct picture of a condition of things which claims to be remedied on its own in- trinsic evidences of injustice and importance, and which must be patent to all who will take the trouble to examine for themselves dispassionately into the details of the matter. He therefore hopes that criticism will in his case have regard rather to the points of interest discussed, than to the mani- fold imperfections of the writer.