PREFACE. HA AVING now arrived at the conclufion of our Twentieth Volume, we fhould have been difpofed to have celebrated this year as a fort of jubilee, and feafon of felf-congratulation, if the awful afpect of the times had not forbidden every emotion bordering upon levity, and afforded matter of the most ferious confideration and reflection to every member of the community. No circumftance of time, nor ftate of affairs, can, however, reprefs our gratitude, or reftrain our acknowledgements to the Publick, for that continued favour, which, as it has during fo many years, conftantly increafed with our labours, fo it has alone enabled us to encounter the arduous task of appearing annually before them in so many fucceffive publications, upon each of which, their former efteem, and future approbation, were, of course, in fome degree hazarded. The importance and magnitude of our historical business have unhappily rifen to nearly the highest pitch at which they feem capable of arriving. We relate events, in which every member of this wide and divided empire is deeply interested; in which many thousands are immediately and perfonally concerned; and wherein its beft blood is too copiously fhed. The incidents are number lefs, and the parties concerned in every incident numerous. It is |