INST T HE prefent work appears with confidence in the kingdom that gave birth to it: and will be well fatisfied with its for tune, if it meets with as favourable a reception as has been indulged to all the other compofitions of its author. The high efteem which Mr. de Voltaire has always discovered for the English, is a proof how ambitious he is of their approbation. It is now grown familiar to him, but then he is not tired with it; and indeed one would be apt to think that this circumftance is pleafing to the nation, from the firong defire they have to perufe whatever is published under his name.. Without 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 wifhed. Mr. de Voltaire is the author of them, they were written in London, and relate particularly to the English nation; three circumftances which muft neceffarily recommend them. The great freedom with which Mr. de Voltaire delivers himfelf 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 pleafed to have their faults pointed out to them, because this fhews at the fame time, that the writer is able to diftinguish 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 cuftoms of the British nation. 'Tis well known that in a correfpondence of this kind, the most just and regular writer does not propofe to observe any method. Mr. de Voltaire in all probability fol lowed lowed no other rule in the choice of his fubjects than his particular tafte, or perhaps the queries of his friend. Be this as it will, it was thought that the most natural order in which they could be placed, would be that of their respective 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 correspondence should have continued no longer. The reader will no doubt obferve, that the circumftances 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 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 criticifm'; in fine, the noble fire, which enlivens all the compofitions of Mr. de Voltaire, delight the reader 2 reader perpetually. Even the most serious letters, fuch as thofe which relate to Sir Ifaac Newton's philofophy, will be found entertaining. The author has infufed into his fubject all the delicate touches it was fufceptible of; deep and abstruse enough to fhew that he was mafter of it, and always perspi-cuous enough to be understood. Some of his English readers may perhaps be diffatisfied at his not expatiating farther en their conftitution and their laws, which most of them revere almoft to idolatry; but this reservedness is an effect of Mr. de Voltaire's judgment. He contented himself with giving his opinion of them in general reflec tions, 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 themfelves as are beft acquainted with it, confefs daily that they are bewildered and loft? LET |