iv PREFACE. 



ceded him, to so high an eminence of reputation,) feels 

 that he is, by no means, addressing himself only to the 

 present race of his countrymen. To this repository 

 of facts and arguments, of authentic documents and 

 contemporary opinions, future statesmen, historians, 

 and philosophers, will resort for those materials, -which 

 must form the surest ground-work of all their labours. 

 And while its present Editor animates his exertions 

 with this reflection, he never ceases to recall to his 

 mind, that all the credit of his narrative, and consC' 

 quently all the utilit}'^ of his labours, both now and 

 hereafter, must depend upon his industry in searching 

 for truth, and his candour and lidelitv in its relation. 



That the readers of this volume will find in it 

 ample proofs of diligent and careful research, he has 

 too much confidence in their justice, to allow hirrtself 

 to doubt. He is equally conscious of the Sincerity of 

 his desire, to deli\tr faithfull^^ what he has laboriously 

 collected. 



He does not, liowcver, attribute to himself the me- 

 rit, if merit it were ; — the dishonour, he would rather 

 call it; — of that species of impartiality, which is the 

 product of indifference. The fate and fortunes of 

 his country ; the measures which advance, and those 

 M'hich impair her prosperity ; the conduct of her disr : 

 tlnguished statesmen ; and the result of her important: 

 transactions ; are all to him matters of the highest 



interest. 



