VI PREFACE. 



involved in them, or naturally drew after them, 

 several facts, some of which were the most 

 remarkable actions or passages of his life. So 

 that in short, by an unexpected increase of 

 materials, by the perusal of several original 

 papers, which at first were neglected, and by 

 the additions of one sort or other, that were 

 made by the assistance of those friends to 

 whom some of the executed parts of the plan 

 were communicated, the draught advanced, 

 and grew by degrees to the size and shape in 

 which it now appears. Insomuch that what 

 was the first and sole design is now become the 

 last and the least part of the whole work. 



If the method into which it is thrown be 

 thought not altogether so uniform and exact, 

 as is sometimes found in books of this kind, it 

 ought to be remembered that the disposition 

 and arrangement of the several parts would be 

 best directed by the materials themselves, in 

 subservience to the main design of the com- 

 piler, which was to put them together in such 

 a way as would best serve towards giving a 

 clear and just idea of the man who is described 



