redeem the pledge which I then gave, by offering to my indulgent Readers the Conclusion of a Work in which their patience has had no small trialnot without the hope, in many cases the certainty, that they have been rewarded by useful information. On the imperfection arising from the want of regular arrangement, I shall only observe, that such a Book could not very easily have been otherwise produced. It is not a regular History—it is not a Romantic Tale-nor a Work of Fancywhich a Writer might amuse himself by refining, till he frittered away his own ideas. It is a Mine of literary materials, whence future Biographers and Historians will readily and unsparingly collect what may suit their several purposes. Should my Representatives, at any future period, be inclined to publish a new Edition (a task which I shall never myself think of attempting), the whole is now before them; and my corrected copy will facilitate their labour. A regular arrangement (and certainly some compression) might then be properly adopted. Of smaller errors, several have arisen from the articles themselves (the Letters particularly) not having been originally written for the Press. These I have carefully endeavoured to point out and amend; and, in general, have availed myself of every hint that has been suggested, either by the various Periodical Criticks, or by a host of intelligent Correspondents, of whom the greater part have been duly noticed in former Prefaces. Here, Here, however, I must repeat the respectable names of JAMES BINDLEY, Esa.; the Hon. Mr. JUSTICE HARDINGE; GEORGE ALLAN, Esq. M. P.; the Rev. WILLIAM BELOE; JAMES BROWN, Esa.; Mr. A. CHALMERS; the Rev. RALPH CHURTON, B. D. Archdeacon of St. David's; JAMES DOWLAND, Esq.; and of the late Rev. EDWARD JONES (see p. 760): And am proud to add some of the brightest Ornaments of Literature, by whose personal friendship I have very long been honoured the truly benevolent Dr. THOMAS BURGESS, Lord Bishop of ST. DAVID'S; the enlightened and profoundly-learned Dr. SAMUEL PARR; the kind-hearted and energetic Dr. RENNELL, Dean of Winchester, and Master of the Temple; the Rev. JOSEPH HOLDEN POTT, B. D. Archdeacon of London; the Rev. ROBERT NARES, B. D. Archdeacon of Stafford ; and the Rev. WILLIAM TOOKE, F. R. S. I am happy also to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Mr. JOHN BELL, of Newcastle; JOSEPH BRADNEY, Esq.; JOHN BURDON, Esq.; the Rev. WEEDEN BUTLER, Junior; the Rev. THOMAS CROMPTON; the Rev. CHARLES DUNSTER; DAVID JENNINGS, Esq.; the Rev. AULAY MACAULAY; the Rev. THOMAS McCULLOCH; EDWARD ROBERTS, Esq.; the Rev. JOHN FLEMING ST. JOHN; the Rev. Peter SANDIFORD; the Rev. Dr. GEORGE STRAHAN; THOMAS STREET, Esq.; ROBERT SURTEES, Esq.; and Mr. A. J. VALPY. To To Mr. JAMES BASIRE (whose modest worth, even in his boyish days, secured my hearty esteem) I am indebted for a Portrait of his Father; whose animated features I felicitate myself in thus having first been the medium of introducing to the Publick. I have also to thank my skilful and invariable Friend Dr. LETTSOM, for Portraits of Mr. Peter COLLINSON, Dr. CUMING, and Dr. FOTHERGILL; and am greatly obliged to Mr. H. ROGERS for the striking resemblance of Mr. HOLT. A copious INDEX to the EIGHTH and NINTH Volumes, by the attentive and unwearied diligence of the young Friend to whom I was obliged for the former Index, is in great forwardness; and will be so arranged in the printing, as to form a Second Part of the Seventh Volume. The List of Addi- tional Subscribers, as far as they are come to hand, I have now fulfilled my engagement; but do not feel myself precluded from offering to the Publick |