Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire, and which they have very happily employed in works of a similar nature, seemed the best form for such an undertaking. It is not subjected to the laws of regular history, or of biography, strictly so termed : It admits easily of digressions, and is thus suited to the utmost variety of subjects: It professes not to exhaust the topics of which it treats; but rather to open and introduce them to the reader :-And above all, it allows a varied tone of composition, and at times, a familiarity of style, which greatly smooth the labour of a lengthened work. Of all these privileges, it will be seen, that the writer has amply availed himself;-greatly indeed to his own ease; yet, as he would willingly hope, not often to the offence of his readers.
With these few preliminary observations, he commits the work implicitly to the candour and indulgence of the public.
WOODHOUSELEE, September 24. 1806. S