ADVERTISEMENT. S the Editor of this collection is con scious there may appear fome defects in the arrangement of his materials, he thinks it neceffary to acquaint the Public with the true reason of their appearing in a lefs finished ftate than he could have wished to present them. Some gentlemen of fortune and literary abilities had once conceived the scheme of contributing to the entertainment and inftruction of the rifing generation by a felection of the most interesting and improving histories from different authors. They intended to tranflate from the different languages of Eu rope rope whatever might engage, the minds of children to the improvement of their knowledge, and inspire them with an early love of virtue. To these they were to have added a judicious felection from natural history, and the most entertaining defcriptions that are to be found in the ample collection of modern voyages; together with many original pieces of their own compofition. All thefe, it was prefumed, would contribute a pleafing and useful Miscellany for the ufe of children, which they intended to have published in periodical numbers. After they had made fome progrefs in the execution of this fcheme, they were compelled, by accidents which it is unneceffary to relate, to aban don their defign. But, though the modefty of the authors would rather have led them to suppress what they could not engage to finish, the Editor, to whom their papers papers were entrusted, has judged them too valuable to be entirely fuppreffed. He has, therefore, collected them into a yolume, with the hopes that this Mifcellany may not appear undeferving of the public favour, and may be deemed no contemptible addition to that branch of literature which proposes to itself the important object of pleafing and inftructing children. THE |