for the Proprietors of Dodley's Annual Regifter,
W.OTRIDGE AND SON; R. FAULDER; J. CUTHELL; OGILVY AND SON;
R. LEA; J. NUNN; J. WALKER; LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.
E. JEFFERY; AND VERNOR AND HOOD.

IT

T has been justly 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 fhape, fo great a variety of counfels 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 fuch as may be contemplated without distraction, and with fome degree of both pleasure and

advantage. The candid reader, when he reflects on this, will find an excufe for the omiffion of fome things, which, perhaps, he might have wifhed to fee recorded in our narrative, rather than under the head of StatePapers, and detached Occurrences; and alfo for the brevity with which fome fubjects are treated, in order to make room for others of equal or greater importance.

We never expected nor defired that our work fhould be particularly palatable to any faction or party; but we confefs our aftonishment to understand, that any infinuations should have been made, that in our late volumes there is a leaning towards principles of democracy.

It is an odious thing for men to fpeak of themfelves, but it fometimes becomes neceffary. Is there a greater difpofition manifefted in the Annual Regifter to maintain the claims of human nature, than to difplay and forwarn mankind of the dreadful dangers of anarchy? What is the inference which remains uppermoft on the mind, on a perufal of the account given in the volume for 1794, of the feries of circumstances that involved the revolution and difafters of Poland-and to which, though obvious, we deemed it even our duty, in these times, particularly to call the attention of the reader? Is it not this-that the liberty and well being of the people are intimately and effentially connected with a juft degree of power in the hands of a monarch? With regard to the grand queftion, of peace or war, it is maintained, "That it would become the wisdom

of

of intelligent legislators, of all nations, to banish all ideas of attacks on one another, and to bend their united efforts against the common enemy of all: a fpirit of innovation and plunder : " and " That that nation will fhew the greatest wisdom, as well as magnanimity, which fhall make the firft advance towards univerfal pacification, on the principles of reafon and juftice." But it is alfo acknowledged, "that it would be very unfafe, and is not to be expected, that any one nation fhould throw afide its arms, and truft merely to the mantle of justice, while all or any of its neighbours fhould fill wear the coat of mail and helmet."*

It does not appear to us to become the annalist, to place himself in a dictatorial chair, and indulge in reflections and exclamations, whether-in accufation or defence of any party. If we are fometimes tempted to depart from this chaftenefs, it is, our readers will perceive and acknowledge, in favour of the great mafs and lower claffes of the people, whofe interefts, by all parties, at least when in the actual poffeffion of power, are too apt to be neglected. The apparent indifference and coldnefs of our manner will not, certainly, be in unifon with the heated imaginations of the more zealous of our contemporaries. A time, however, will come, and probably it is at no great diftance, when naked ruth will be more regarded than the heightened cotourings of party zeal and the animofity of faction.

* See p. 15.