PREFACE

TO

THE FIRST EDITION.

THE

HE Editor of this Volume of BIOGRA PHICAL ANECDOTES, presents it to the Public with some degree of confidence. Whatever may be its literary merit, it at least poffeffes, with refpect to materials, the recommendation of Novelty. No Work, embracing the same object, has yet appeared either in this Country, or on the Continent: it is therefore obvious, that the collector can have been little indebted to the labours of contemporaries, and may, without presumption, lay claim to public attention on account of the originality of his information.

It may, perhaps, excite some surprise, that the Editor should have been enabled to form a Work, not contemptible in fize; wholly confifting of original sketches of characters, which have, in the course of the French Revolution,

i

volution, started in such vast numbers, from obscurity into eminence, and fome account will reasonably be required of the authenticity of the fources from which such minute details have been supplied. Though various circumstances, which it is unneceffary to fpecify, prevent the particular mention of the persons to whom he stands indebted for information, he can affure his Readers, that he has received ample communications from various well-informed Foreigners, some of whom have been personally connected with the events which they relate; and also from Englishmen, who have refided in France during nearly the whole period of the Revolution. Were he permitted to add their names, they would reflect no fmall degree of respectability upon his Work. For its authenticity, however, he can confidently vouch; as he has relied, not upon vague rumour, but upon direct information from persons intimately converfant with the facts, and well acquainted with the characters which are the subject of these Memoirs.

After the Editor's utmost care, it is probable that many inaccuracies may have escaped correction. In collecting fugitive informa

tion, and recording the events of the paffing
day, fome indulgence for trivial overfights
may be claimed. If Gallicifms should fome-
times be detected, the Reader will have the
candour to recollect, that a great part of the
materials for this Work was furnished by
Frenchmen. Should any material errors in
point of fact have escaped the Editor, he ear-
neftly folicits speedy correction, and more
complete information.

In exhibiting characters now, or lately
living, it was impracticable to attempt any
distinct claffification, or chronological ar-
rangement; but an endeavour has been made
to fupply, in fome measure, this defect, by
means of an Alphabetical Table of Contents.
Upon the interefting nature of this publi-
cation, it is wholly unnecessary to expatiate.
Memorials of men who have borne an active,
and many of them a principal part, in one of
the greatest events in the moral and political
hiftory of the world, must interest every one
who wishes well to his species. It is impof-
fible to recollect without horror, that about
one half of the perfons mentioned in this Vo-
lume, have fallen victims to political prenzy
under the guillotine. The fudden and afto-
nishing

nishing viciffitudes of fortune, exhibited in the condition of individuals, afford a most instructive lesson to their cotemporaries. The dreadful waste of human talents and virtues, and alfo of human existence, which has accompanied this grand effort for the recovery of political freedom, must fill every benevolent mind with infinite regret. Nor can any thing relieve the painful feelings excited by the first part of this diftreffing drama, but the "trembling hope" of a happy termination, in which the VAST PRICE which has been paid for the purchase of liberty, will be abundantly recompenfed in the happiness of COUNTLESS MILLIONS yet unborn.

No. 71, St. Paul's Church-Yard,
Sept. 24, 1797.

About the middle of March will be published, a new, corrected, and enlarged Edition, of the popular and much approved Work, entitled, PUBLIC CHARACTERS of 1798, confifting of Biographical Memoirs of Eighty of the most distinguished Perfonages now living, who are natives of Great Britain or Ireland, with Thirty Characteristic Portraits, price 8s. 6d. boards. Two thousand copies of the first edition of this work were fold within the space of five weeks!