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AND LACKINGTON, ALLEN, & CO. TEMPLE OF THE MUSES,
FINSBURY SQUARE.PRINTED FOR, AND SOLD BY,

J. ROBERTSON, NO. 15, NICOLSON STREET, AND
NO, 4, HORSE WYND, EDINBURGH.

PREFACE.

I Now discharge my promise, and complete

my design of writing the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, both in the West and the East. The whole period extends from the age of Trajan and the Antonines, to the taking of Constantinople by Mahomet the second; and includes a review of the Crusades and the state of Rome during the middle ages. Since the publication of the first volume, twelve years have elapsed; twelve years, according to my wish, "of "health, of leisure, and of perseverance."

I

may now congratulate my deliverance from a long and laborious service, and my satisfaction will be pure and perfect, if the public favour should be extended to the conclusion my work.

of

* Alluding to the Quarto Edition, in which size the Work was originally published.