FOR a long time the public have been in want of a work on the art of Distillation and Rectification, couched in such language that every one could appreciate it; and of such size and value that the price, and the time required to read it, would prove the least objectionable. From the best information I can gain, no work has appeared on this subject for many years. Owing to this fact, most of the improvements which have been made in the art have proved of little use to the larger class; and thus things have almost remained stationary with regard to this very important matter, particularly in this country; which is, indeed, greatly to be lamented, as we are in possession of every thing, in the way of fruits, vegetables, etc., which have hitherto been used in distillation. I trust that in the following pages the reader will find every thing that the present state of science calls for, and that the suggestions may prove of great practical advantage; which I think they will do, as every thing is given in the shortest and plainest manner. It is almost needless to say that I have consulted every authority that I could find, for the purpose of making this a complete work; they are, however, too numerous to mention here, and would be, moreover, of no benefit to the reader. With these few prefatory remarks, the book is submitted to the public.