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A62

NO. 22

PREFACE.

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HE Year of which we treat, prefented the most aweful appearance of public affairs, which this country had perhaps beheld for many ages. All ancient fyftems of policy, relative to any scheme of equality or balance of power, feemed forgotten in Europe. Friends and allies were no more with respect to us. On the contrary, whether it proceeded from our fault, or whether it was merely our misfortune, mankind feemed to wait, with an aspect which at beft befpoke indifference, for the event of that ruin which was expected to burst upon us.

It has happened fortunately, that the expected evil and danger, were lefs dreadful in the encounter, than in the distant The great combination of

appearance. the House of Bourbon with the American Colonies, was far from producing all thofe effects which were undoubtedly expected. If our own fucceffes were not great, and rather negative than direct in their nature, our loffes, however confiderable, were ftill less than might have been apprehended. It affords no fmall room both for fatisfaction and hope, that no diminution of national glory has taken place, through any failure of native valour in our Seamen and Soldiers. They have fupported in all cafes, and under whatever circumftances of disadvantage, their antient character.

With the importance and variety of the work, our labour has increased; and

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every

every year of this period, fo full of trouble both abroad and at home, has produced fo much matter, that the business of one has run in upon the other.

The Reader

will thus account for the delay which has annually increased. Perhaps we ought rather to apologize for bringing out the matter fo crudely, as we are obliged to do, to keep tolerably within time, than for a delay rendered neceffary by the magnitude of our task. deem the hour, when, recurring from the horrors of war to the pleasant ways of peace, we shall have the pleasure of announcing to the Public, the glad tidings of returning tranquility.

Happy shall we

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