IxXviii ADVERTISEMENT. 



ments which precede them. They are followed 

 by numerous and long Notes, which fometimes 

 deviate from their Text. But every thing is in 

 union with every thing, in Nature, and Studies ad- 

 mit of univerfal collection. 1 am, accordingly, in- 

 debted to the Title of my Book, for the advan- 

 tage, which is far from being inconfiderable to ta- 

 lents feeble and variable like mine, of going which 

 way I pleafe, of attaining where I can, and of flop- 

 ping Iliort when I feel my ftrength fail. 



Some perfons to whom I read the Piece entitled 

 THE Gauls, exprefled a wifh that I would not 

 publilli it, till the Work, of which it is a part, 

 Ihould be completed : but I am uncertain whether 

 I ever (liall enjoy leifure to execute it, and whe- 

 ther this fpecies of antique compofition is likely to 

 pleafe the tafte of the prefent age. It is, I admit, 

 only a fragment ; bur fuch as it is, it conftirutes a 

 complete Work, for it prefents an entire pidure of 

 the manners of our Anceflors, during the domina- 

 tion of the Druids. Belldes, in the mod finiihed 

 labours of Man, What is to be found but frag- 

 ments ? The Hiftory of a King is only a fragment 

 of the Hiftory of his Dynafty ; that of his Dynafty, 

 a fragment of the Hiftory of his Kingdom j that of 

 his Kingdom, a fragment of the Hiftory of the 

 Human Race ; which is itfelf merely a fragment 



of 



