and natural gradation drew from them the fairest and the moft delicious fruits. His queftions, beginning upon self-evident principles, arofe to clear and immediate confequences, that led the mind infenfibly to the nobleft difcoveries. It was thus that truth arose in its native beauty, and in its full power, and, without perplexing the understanding, captivated and charmed the heart. The learned and ingenious Author of the following Dialogues (whofe merit is far above the praises of fuch an obfcure pen as mine) has imitated, with dignity, the Socratic menod• It is true that this method will only fucceed in the hands of fuch, as, like A. 5 him, him, are masters of the fubjects on which they write. To unfold with plainnefs, perfpicuity, and eafe, truths which require penetration and nice difcernment, is only the privilege of those who know them intimately, and are perfectly and familiarly acquainted with them. A fuperficial knowledge of truth will always produce obfcurity in those that attempt to write; at leaft, it will yield nothing that is folid and fatisfactory; and it is impoffible for an author to avoid perplexity in his expreffions while he wants clearness and perfpicuity in his ideas. The fubjects, that are handled in thefe Dialogues, are of the highest importance, and contain a collection of the wifeft rules for the direction of mankind in their various relations whether religious, civil, or focial. The author indeed, by introducing SOCRATES as the principal perfon, was obliged to confine himself to Natural Religion in the dialogue that has religion for its fubject; but he has, even there, ingenioufly displayed the excellence and the advantages of Revelation, by the confeffion of thofe defects which attend the light of Nature, and the earnest defire and expectation of a farther discovery of the Divine will, which he puts in the mouth of this great Philofopher. And, that this confeffion, and expectation are not falfely, or by way of fiction, A 6 attri attributed to SOCRATES, may be seen in the note upon that paffage. In a word, those Dialogues, tho' designed principally for the inftruction of an Illuftrious Prince, are yet of fuch a nature, as renders them every way adapted to the advancement of useful knowledge, and substantial virtue, in every station and condition of life. The Reader will fee, by the title that is prefixed to this work, that it was defigned for the ufe of the Here ditary Prince of SAXE-GOTHA, from which Illuftrious Houfe the British Nation derives one of its brighteft Ornaments in the perfon of a RoyAL PRINCESS, whofe virtues add a luftre to her exalted rank, and whofe hope hopeful Off-spring will repair a loss, which, otherwife, we could never fufficiently deplore. The editor of thefe Dialogues has informed us particularly of the occafion on which they were wrote, and as he mentions in this account fome things that relate to the method, that was used in the education of the Prince for whom they were drawn up, it may not be improper to infert it here. I therefore give it in his own words, which are as follows. Thefe Dialogues were compofed at Geneva, by Mr. VERNET, profeffor in Hiftory and Belles Lettres, for the inAtruction of bis Serene Highness the be |