PREFACE.

ANOTHER volume of the Annual Register

is now offered to the attention, and, as we trust, the approbation of the Public. It contains the history of a most important, interesting, and eventful period. It involves all the extraordinary events, which, through this year, have agitated Europe; and the progressive state of the French Revolution, which is the parent of them. The Reader, therefore, when he finds that our historical department is greatly enlarged, will do us the justice to believe, that we are governed by those considerations which will support our pretensions to his favour; that we accommodate our labours to the nature of our work, as it may present itself before us; and that we are not deterred by any extraordinary demands

which may be made upon our exertions, by the multiplying events, both foreign and domestic, of the times that are passing by us.

In the Preface to the volume with which the work commenced, its nature and design were fully explained; and, by the increasing favour which has attended its progressive publication, its object may be said to have been completely obtained. Nor shall we hesitate to add, that the nation at large has been furnished, by its means, with a copious source of solid information and elegant amusement; with knowledge, which at once instructs and adorns the mind, and, by its diversity, heightens the intercourse of social life. It has, indeed, been long and universally acknowledged, that the Annual Register has amply gratified the taste it has contributed to improve. To this opinion of the original work, we must beg leave to add, in behalf of ourselves who have undertaken to continue it, that we shall keep in view the merits of its original writers; and, as we shall endeavour to observe the same impartiality, to look to the same resources, and

to

to practise the same industry, may we not, without presumption, encourage the hope, that we shall receive the same approbation.-Nor will it surely be considered as a waste of professions, when we represent ourselves as being influenced by the genuine spirit which characterises every true Briton; that we are firm supporters of our most happy and glorious constitution, which has so long preserved, and will, we doubt not, continue to preserve to us, a state of unrivalled freedom and prosperity; that in every situation and circumstance, our country will be most dear to us; and that it is not as literary men alone we shall be ever ready to devote ourselves to its service.

The volume, for the year 1791, has been published by gentlemen with whom we have no concern. They have also announced a succeeding volume for 1792, which does not appear to be yet completed. To revive therefore, the languid expectations of the former purchasers of DODSLEY'S Annual Register, and to free them from any disappointment in the delivery of those

volumes, which are wanting to render the work complete to the present time, the proprietors consider it as their duty to declare, that they will publish two volumes every year till that object is attained. It is also their fixed intention to publish the volumes for the years 1791 and 1792, with all possible expedition. At the same time, they beg leave to announce the Annual Register, for the year 1797, to be in such an advanced state, as to promise a very early appearance. In short, with other en

every

deavour to merit a continuance of the public patronage, they will not fail to observe the same punctuality that distinguishes the volume which is now presented to it.