xxvi PREFACE. 



Harte, have not been re-printed. Proofs 

 to which many more might be added, 

 that the public reception does not al- 

 ways mark the merit of a book. 



Any real utility that may refult from 

 this work out of Ireland, can only be 

 from thofe who determine fteadily to 

 become acquainted with all the facts 

 they can procure, in order to compare, 

 combine, and draw conclufions from 

 them. To men thus fcientific, too ma- 

 ny facts can never be publifhed ; and 

 with fuch, I flatter myfelf, I fh.aH be 

 readily pardoned for having added fo 

 many to the number. Indeed I fome- 

 times fmile in reading performances, the 

 authors of which think me of import- 

 ance enough to do me the honour of 

 abufing for whole pages together, at 

 the very time that they make extremely 

 free with information they never might 

 have known, had my labours been 

 wrought like their own, at a fire fide. 

 But while I am happy in the good opi- 

 nion, and inftruckd in the correipon- 

 dence of fome of the fir ft characters in 



Europe 



