C M 4? ) 
The Angular Generofity of thofe araonft the Nobility 
and Gentry who have fo liberally contributed to the Ex- 
penees of the Author’s Travels, in order to qualifie him 
for fo uncommon an Undertaking, has (as you know ve- 
ry well) befides their Names prefix’d to this Volume, been 
gratefully acknowledg’d in the Preface of a Latin Book 
publifli’d during his Travels. Nor. can indeed fo lauda- 
ble an A 6 c be ever too much celebrated, there* being no 
other Method of rendering one capable of fuch a Task, 
but thofe Travels through the remoteft parts of Britain 
and Ireland, which he has upon that Encouragement fo 
fuccefsfully perform’d. 
One would think that in this Learned and Curious Age 
nothing need be urg’d as to the ufefulnefs of preferving 
in Writing thefe Original Languages of Britain and be* 
land. But yet fo fubjedt is Humane Nature to prejudice, 
and fo apt to entertain the eafie Humour of Jefting, ra- 
ther than that more Thoughtful one of confidering Sub- 
jects, and examining them ; that I find a great many 
Gentlemen, otherwife very fenfible and Ingenious, are at 
a loft herein. The ufe of committing to Writing thefe 
now almoft Antiquated Languages is what the Author 
has truly hinted in his Dedication and Prefaces : Name- 
ly the tracing out of the Original Inhabitants of thefe 
parts of Europe j The Interpretation of the Names of 
Perfons and Places, in the Roman Hiftory and Geography, 
not only of Gaul, Britain and Ireland, but in a great 
meafure alfo of Italy and Spain 5 The Improvement of 
fuch Works of Learned and defervedly Eminent Men as 
the Etymological Dictionaries of Vojfins and Menage 5 the 
explaining fuch paffages in the Greek and Latin Writers 
as relate to the Rites and Manners of the Gauls, Britains, 
8 cc. by a diligent perufal of the Ancient Poets, and fuch 
others of the Oldeft Writers as are extant in thefe Lan- 
guages. As for fuch as (hall anfwer, that tho all this 
fhould be granted, yet ftill thefe are but trifling and ufe- 
