stance is pleafing to the nation, from the ftrong defire they have to peruse whatever is published under his name.

WITHOUT pretending therefore to any great penetration, we may venture to affure him that his letters will meet with all the fuccefs that could be wished. Mr. de Voltaire is the author of them, they were written in London, and relate particularly to the English nation; three circumstances which must neceffarily recommend them. The great freedom with which Mr. de Voltaire delivers himself in his various obfervations, cannot give him any Apprehenfions of their being lefs favourably received upon that account, by a judicious people who abhor flattery. The English are pleased to have their faults pointed out to them, because this fhews at the fame time, that

the

the writer is able to distinguish their merit.

We must however confefs, that these letters were not defigned for the public. They are the refult of the author's complacency and Friendship for Mr. Thiriot, who had defired him, during his stay in England, to favour him with fuch remarks as he might make on the manners and customs of the British nation. 'Tis well known that in a correspondence of this kind, the most just and regular writer does not propofe to obferve any method. Mr. de Voltaire in all probability followed no other rule in the choice of his fubjects than his particular taste, or perhaps the queries of his friend. Be this as it will, 'twas thought that the moft natural order in which they could be placed, would be that of their re

spective dates.

Several particulars

which are mentioned in them make it neceffary for us to obferve, that they were written between the latter end of 1728, and about 1731. The only thing that can be regretted on this occafion is, that fo agreeable a correfpondence fhould have continued no longer.

THE reader will no doubt obferve, that the circumstances in every letter which had not an immediate relation to the title of it, have been omitted. This was done on purpose; for letters written with the confidence and

fimplicity of perfonal friendship, generally include certain things which are not proper for the prefs. The public indeed thereby often lofe a great many agreeable particulars; but why fhould they complain, if the want of

them

them is compenfated by a thoufand beauties of another kind? The variety of the fubjects, the graces of the diction, the folidity of the reflections, the delicate turn of the criticism; in fine, the noble fire, which enlivens all the I compofitions of Mr. de Voltaire, delight the reader perpetually. Even the most serious letters, fuch as thofe which relate to Sir Ifaac Newton's philosophy, will be found entertaining. The author has infused into his subject all the delicate touches it was susceptible of; deep and abftrufe enough to fhew that he was mafter of it, and always perfpicuous enough to be under-ftood.

SOME of his English readers may perhaps be diffatisfied at his not expatiating farther on their conftitution

and

and their laws, which most of them revere almost to idolatry; but this refervedness is an effect of Mr. de Voltair's judgment. He contented himself with giving his opinion of them in general reflections, the caft of which is entirely new, and which prove that he had made this part of the British polity his particular ftudy. Befides, how was it poffible for a foreigner to pierce through their politicks, that gloomy labyrinth, in which fuch of the English themselves as are best acquainted with it, confefs daily that they are bewildered and loft ?

WHILE this work was in the press, there came to London a manuscript letter of Mr. de Voltaire, in answer to the complaints made by the citizens of Hamburgh, against a paffage in the

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