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AS there are Notes of confiderable length in 

 the two following Fragments, I have thought 

 it advifable to transfer them to the end of their re- 

 fpeâ:ive articles. The ufe of Notes, fo common 

 in modern Books, arifes, on the one hand, from 

 the unfkilfulnefs of Authors, who feel themfelves 

 at a lofs how to introduce into their Works, ob- 

 fervations which they conceive to be interefting; 

 and on the other, from the exceffive delicacy of 

 Readers, who do not like to have their progrefs 

 interrupted by digrefïions. 



The Ancients, who wrote better than we do, 

 never fubjoined Notes to their text; but they ftep- 

 ped afide from it, to the right and to the left, ac- 

 cording as occafion required. In this manner 

 wrote the moft celebrated Philofophers and H:fto- 

 rians of Antiquity, fuch as Herodotus, Plato, Xeno^ 

 pboUy Tacitus, the good Plutarch Their digref- 

 ïions, if 1 may be permitted to judge, diffufe a 

 very pleafing variety over their Works. They .liew 

 you a great deal of the country in a little time; 

 and condud; you by the lakes, over the moun-» 

 tains, through the forefts ; but never fail to lead 



o 3 you 



