PREFACE. V 



interest. He is the annalist of a great Empire, but 

 he is, at the same time, the citizen of a free state. 



Yet while he claims and exercises that liberty of 

 judgment, speech, and writing, which we consider as 

 the best safe-guard of our Constitution, he trusts he 

 shall not be found to have abused it. He has no wish 

 to calumniate those from whom he may happen to 

 differ in political opinion; — ngne, to misrepresent 

 their motives, to traduce their characters, or, least of 

 all, to falsify the record of their actions. 



In those branches of the work which embrace the 

 literature and manners of the country, or which aim 

 solely at affording to the reader a liberal and not un- 

 profitable amusement, he has acted with the same 

 spirit of impartial selection and arrangement, though 

 applied to matters of much less importance. And he 

 has above all things been careful to maintain the uni- 

 form character of " The Annual Register," by con- 

 tinuing the exclusion of every word or sentiment, 

 which could be deemed, in the remotest degree, inju- 

 rious to the interests of moralit}-. 



On the whole, it is the hope of the Editor, that 

 as the historical portion of the work, while it faith- 

 fully records the fleeting transactions of the times, 

 may convey soirie information respecting them, even 

 to those who are best acquainted with their general 



course 



