iv PREF ACE 
more and more remote, and to keep an’ eye not only 
on the aiflairs of one society of men, but also on those 
of others. Curiosity is in proportion to intellectual im- 
provement. 
It may, we fear, appear at first sight to our Readers, 
that we had lost sight of the truth of these observations, 
when, in drawing up the History of Europe for ‘1797, 
we devoted so large a portion of our space to the affairs 
of Great Britain. But it will soon’ be perceived, that, 
the British history for that year comprehends events 
more important to Europe, ‘and, to the British nation, 
particularly, more striking and alarming than those: of 
any year preceding it, since the commencement of the 
Annual Register.—‘ without were fightings; within were 
fears:”” Not only the British constitution trembled on. 
the pivot of fortune, but the political balance of Europe. 
An extension of the British history, beyond its. usual, 
limits, was unavoidable.—To swell this part of our. 
Work, by copious accounts of . parliamentary debates, . 
with other domestic transactions; and, on the other 
hand, by a proportionable reduction, to confine the his- 
tory of all Europe besides, to one-fifth, or even sixth, 
part of our nazvative, would be a great saving of labour 
and, 
