INTRODUCTION. ixxv 



riage in time. Why mould I not now fpeak as I really 

 think, or why be guilty of ingratitude which my heart dif- 

 claims. I efcaped by the providence and protection of hea- 

 ven ; and fo little flore do i fet upon the advantage of my 

 own experience, that I am fatisned, were J to attempt the 

 fame journey again, it would not avail me a ftraw, or 

 hinder me from perifhing miferably, as others have done, 

 though perhaps a different way. 



I have only to add, that were it probable, as in my de- 

 cayed Hate of health it is not, that I fhould live to fee a fe~ 

 cond edition of this work, all well-founded, judicious re- 

 marks fuggefted mould be gratefully and carefully attend- 

 ed to ; but I do folemnly declare to the public in general, 

 that I never will refute or anfwer any cavils, captious, 

 or idle objections, fuch as every new publication feems 

 unavoidably to give birth to, nor ever reply to thofe witti- 

 cifms and criticifms that appear in newfpapers and periodi- 

 cal writings. What I have written I have written. My readers 

 have before them, in the prefent volumes, all that I lhall ever 

 fay, directly or indirectly, upon the fubjcct ; and J do, with- 

 out- one moment's anxiety, truft my defence to an impartial, 

 well-informed, and judicious public. 



CONTENTS, 



