From the PREFACE. Up to the present little attention has been paid to Gassendi. The want of a reliable account of his philosophy has caused him to be neglected, for the nature of his own writings is such as would naturally obscure the value of his message. Hallam, in his "Introduction to the Literature of Europe" (Part IV. chap, iii.), indicates the extent to which Gassendi has been neglected and also the reasons. He refers to Gassendi's "prolixity of statement," "prodigality of learning," and "display of erudition," characteristics which have all militated against recognition of his real merits. In consequence he is little more than a name, or is known as the original of Bernier's work, and is either misunderstood or pushed aside as one who challenged Descartes from an antiquated and untenable standpoint. To remedy this error and supply what is undoubtedly a page in the history of philosophy I have tried in this book to express briefly the main lines of Gassendi's thought. It has been necessary to condense the matter ruthlessly, but this could be done with all the less danger because so much of the contents of the volumes is historical. None the less it is natural that there should arise the feeling that a process which condenses chapters into phrases and whole sections into sentences, is an injustice to an author. The atmosphere of comprehensive learning which gives a peculiar charm to these volumes cannot be reproduced elsewhere: it is the breath of an age which every day puts further from us. In compensation for this loss I can only plead the advantages of conciseness. Time works toward the setting forth of the skeleton with the destruction of all else, and in the world of books we take an optimistic view of this unavoidable process and trust that it leaves us what is most enduring and most essential.