LONDON: Printed by T. Burton, No. 31, Little Queen-ftreet, for the Proprietors of Dodfley's Annual Regifter, W.OTRIDGE AND SON; R. FAULDER; J. CUTHELL; OGILVY AND SON; PREFACE. has been juftly obferved, that the most extenfive and inveterate wars have generally been thofe, not of ambition, but of opinion. In our days, a new principle of war has arifen, much more extenfive in its influence and effects than any difference of opinion on any fubject: for, never yet was there any doctrine, whether merely fpeculative or religious, fo general, as a love of property and a difpofition to plunder. The trouble, which this new principle occafions to the annalist, will readily be perceived by our readers, in perufing the Hiftory of Europe; comprehending, alfo, the effects of European principles, paflions, and projects, in Afia, Africa, and America, and their re-action on our quarter of the world. It is not an eafy matter to arrange, into any tolerable order or shape, fo great a variety of counsels and actions, going on at the fame time in fo many different parts of the globe; to give to each its juft pofition and proportion; and, on the whole, to form a picture that may not be over-loaded and confused, but such as may be contemplated without diftraction, and with fome degree of both pleasure and advantage, |