PREFACE 
TO THE 
SEVENTH VOLUME. 
In laying before the Public the concluding volume of 
his work, the Author cannot forbear to claim their indul¬ 
gence towards him on several points, the enumeration of 
which may perhaps tend to disarm their severe criticism. 
He is aware that in this enlightened age, when many 
works of great merit are, from time to time, added to the 
public fund of instruction and amusement, something 
superior is expected from those who seek to lead their 
readers through a work of seven volumes; and some 
apology is therefore the more necessary from one who 
seeks their favour for the first time. 
For many imperfections of style he hopes to be excused, 
on account of the language in which the work is written being 
to him a foreign one ; and for many errors of type he can 
offer no other excuse than such as the heavy labours of a 
monthly periodical work may justly afford. 
