As custom seems to demand a Preface, so I 

 shall comply with the imperious mandate; but the 

 reader need be under no alarm, as I shall not ex- 

 haust his patience by the length, nor excite his 

 disgust by the prolixity, of my prefatory obser- 

 vations. 



In the first place, I acknowledge the obliga- 

 tions I feel for the very handsome manner in 

 which several Reviews noticed the first edition 

 of the present work, particularly the Literary 

 Chronicle, a publication, as much distinguished 

 for the independence and candour of its criticisms, 

 as for the ability with which it is conducted. 



To the present edition (the second) very con- 

 siderable additions have been added. The first 

 edition, in fact, was, in its observations, confined 

 to Game, strictly speaking, and the accompani- 

 ments indispensible for its pursuit j in the present 



