PUBLIC BRARY

5226976

ASTO INOX, AND TILLEN FOUNDATION

R 1950 L

TH

ADVERTISEMENT.

HE intended additions refpecting Scotland, could not be inferted, without fwelling the book by far too much. But if in this the editor is fhort of his promife, he has exceeded it in another article: To the thirty-one copper-plates which he promised, he has added two maps on a very interesting fubject, the intended navigable communication between the Forth and the Clyde.

Befides, he has carried the affairs of Britain, and fome other countries in Europe, farther down, and thofe of America, and the other parts of the world, as far down, as in any other edition, the very lateft published.

Materials are still collecting for the intended hiftory of Scotland. When the collection is fufficiently complete, the propofals fhall be published. A delay, with a view to render the work more perfect, will be readily excufed.

Kilmarnock, June 1767.7

PREFACE.

T

T%

O create in the British youth a laudable ambition to excel in fuch purfuits as moft conduce to their own honour and happiness, and the profperity of their na-: tive country, was one principal motive to this undertaking.

We are in

Curiofity is natural to the foul of man. quifitive, and wonderfully folicitous to be informed of every thing, and every man's concerns, even to a fault; and fhall we be lefs inquifitive, lefs folicitous, in the pursuit of useful knowledge, and the most important

truths?

Can there be a rational creature unconcerned to know the ftate of the world about him, and the manners, cu ftoms, and hiftory, of the several nations his cotempoXraries? And does it not add infinitely to the fatisfaction of every man that reads, to know the time when, and the place where, great and memorable actions were perform

ed?

But the labour and difficulty that is ufually apprehended in making thefe inquiries, frightens young gentlemen from attempting to inform themfelves in thefe particnlars; though without a general knowledge of them, they are neither capable of ferving their country, nor qualified for converfation.

This tract, therefore, prefents the youth of Great Imitain with the world in miniature; which, it is prefiu ned, will be found to contain the moft exact chronology, and the most perfect fyftem of geography now extail, with Juch an epitome of Modern Hiftory, or the prefent state of all nations, as will render the work agreeable to every tafle.

It is a very juft obfervation, That a writer rust not expect many readers, who does not accommodate himff to the tafle of thofe gentlemen to whom he ad effes his

work.

(vi)

And we need not be at a lofs to know what is agree able to most people, when we find every gentleman, and almost every lady, inquiring into the hiftory of the day, and reading the moft trifling occurrences, which nothing but the novelty can recommend.

These they are not afraid to venture upon, when a folio of any dimenfions, replenished with the most interesting truths, would lie neglected, under an apprehenfion that it was impoffible to go through it, or to retain in their memories what it contained, if they fhould attempt it.

This work, therefore, has the charms of brevity, as well as novelty, to engage a general attention. An hour's reading will give a gentleman a tolerable idea of the State of any country he is pleafed to make the fubject of his inquiries. Here the fenator and politician may view the conftitution, forces, and revenues, of the refpective kingdoms and ftates; the divine may obferve the religion and Superftition of the refpective people; the merchant, and marine officer, the produce, traffic, periodical winds and feafons, in the various climates of the globe.

In thofe that have not read larger accounts, it may create an appetite to fearch further into these interesting fubjects, and in those who have been conversant in larger works, it may revive the memory of what they have read, and prevent that confufion in chronology and geography which is too apt to attend the reading many hiftories of different countries.

And as the ftate of our own country concerns us more than that of any other, I have been more particular in the defcription of the British ifles than of any other part of the world. Foreigners juftly expect from us a better account of our own country than of diftant nations.

I have been informed, (but prefume it is mere calumy), that many of our English gentlemen, conscious of their defects in this article, when they travel, converfe little with the gentlemen of the countries they vifit. They keep company only with one another, it is faid; and the French are not very fond of their converfation, how complaifant foever they may be in outward fhew, finding there is little to be learnt from the English, even of the state of their own country; and if thefe British travellers make j mean a figure abroad, what muft they make in the fenate

where