X PREFACE. 



whofe mind he was endeavouring to 

 make him acquainted. I have not even 

 been able to difcover whether a portrait 

 of him aâually exifts ; at any rate, the 

 prefent ftate of things rendered imprac- 

 ticable every attempt to procure a copy 

 of it. 



After what the Author has himfelf 

 faid, in his advertifements, of the recep- 

 tion which his Book has met with on 

 the Continent, it would be impertinent 

 to trouble the Reader with any Hiftory 

 of the Publication. The incenfe which 

 has been offered to him, and the abufe 

 he has fuftained ; the rapid fale of his 

 own fucceffive Editions, and the multi- 

 plied piratical depredations committed 

 upon him, conftitute together an irre- 

 fuliible proof of the merit of the Work. 

 How it is to be relilhed by the Eng- 

 lifli Public, mufl: be fubmittcd to the 



deter- 



