[ xxiii ] 



fign with the public views of this Society, is 

 fufficiently obvious. The prefervation of a 

 clafs of men who are the hands and finews of 

 national ftrength, is a firft object of found 

 policy, as well as of genuine benevolence. 

 If that praife be juft, which has been fully 

 beftowed on a fentiment of Goldsmith, 



" But a bold peafantry, their country's pride, 

 " If once deftroyed, can never be fupplied," 



we cannot be too ftudious of preferving their 

 health and vigour. And while many of our 

 readers will be pleafed and inftru&ed by the 

 Do&or's judicious counfel, his piece will be 

 confidered as highly worthy the adoption of 

 the Society, and worthy himfelf as one of its 

 original founders. 



To conclude. Though the Society can- 

 not undertake to vouch for the perfect accu- 

 racy of every account, nor for the juftice of 

 every opinion contained in the mafs of ma- 

 terials, which from time to time we may be 

 able to lay before the public $ yet may we 



reafonably 



