PREFACE. xiii 



the life of Robertson, I especially consider as pointing 

 to an improvement in that department of letters, highly 

 important to the best interests of mankind, as well as 

 to the character of historians. 



But although I have no political animosities to 

 encounter, I fear my historical statements and my 

 commentaries on some lives, as those of Voltaire, 

 Rousseau, and Hume, may find enemies among the two 

 great parties whose principles come in question. The 

 Free-thinkers will object to the blame which I have ven- 

 tured to pronounce upon their favourite authors ; the 

 friends of the Church may take exception to the praises 

 which I have occasionally bestowed, It may, however, 

 be expected from the justice of both these conflicting 

 bodies, that they will read with attention and with calm- 

 ness before they condemn. From the former class I can 

 expect no favour beyond what every one has a right to 

 claim from avowed adversaries ; a fair hearing is all 

 I desire. To the latter I would address a few words 

 in the spirit of respectful kindness, as to those with 

 whom I generally agree. 



Whoever feels disposed to treat as impious any 

 writer that has the misfortune not to be among the 

 great body of believers, like the celebrated men above 

 named, should bear in mind that the author of these 

 pages, while he does justice to their great literary 

 merits, has himself published, whether anonymously 

 or under his own name, nearly as much in de- 

 fence of religion as they did against it ; and if, with 



