Preface 



tents to be strictly and literally true. If, however, 

 some slight errors may accidentally and undesignedly 

 have been committed, and any one will have the 

 goodness to point them out, the Author will think 

 himself highly obliged by the information, and will 

 avail himself of the first opportunity to acknowledge 

 and correct them. 



The astonishing events that have taken place since 

 the publication of the two former Editions, will 

 probably expose the Author's opinion concerning 

 the termination and final issue of the American con- 

 test to animadversion : but in vindication of himself, 

 he must be permitted to observe, — 



That it was not within the sphere of calculation 

 to suppose, 



ist. That the British ministry would persist in 

 requiring unconditional submission from the colonies, 

 till it was too late to recede; and the opportunity was 

 lost, and for ever gone by: 



2dly. That when coercive measures had been re- 

 solved upon, they would have been enforced in so 

 ruinous and so ineffectual a manner: 



3dly. That, during the war, any member in 

 opposition would have declared publicly, that he 

 corresponded with, and wished success to, the 

 Americans, then in arms against the king: 



Still less was it within the sphere of calculation to 

 suppose, 



That France, though it might be expected that 

 [17] 



