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PRINTED FOR G. WILKIE, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD.

MDCCLXXXII

PUBLIC HIBRARY

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PREF A C

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HE Writer who attempts to lay before his countrymen an impartial Hiftory of his own time, engages in a difficult, and on many accounts, an unpleasant work. He is himfelf liable to be drawn imperceptibly into attachments; and there are few readers who can reafon calmly and judge difpaffionately, of present minifters and measures.

These confiderations might have led the Author to suppress, for fome years, the latter part of this History, (which he has long been forming with fome degree of laborious research) if the posture of public affairs did not appear to him to require the recent hiftory of this country to be related now; that by an epitome of the important tranfactions in which this kingdom has been engaged, the whole may be brought into a clofe point of view, and the public may from thence be enabled to form a jufter opinion of the measures which have been purfued, and how far the bufinefs of the ftate has been executed faithfully, affiduoufly, and wifely. To arraign minifters with a petulant and narrow spirit of detraction, is illiberal and highly reprehenfible; to examine freely, fairly, and clofely their principles of action, both as to the objects which they

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grafp, and the means which they apply, is the birthright of an Englishman, and an employment becoming a good citizen.

The History of Great Britain during Lord North's ministry, will ever be one of its most important periods, although it furnishes few materials to dignify and grace the hiftoric page. It is filled with eventful operations, but not with brilliant actions; and to relate them becomes rather an act of duty, than a claim to literary fame. The fubject is interefting, without being captivating.

The prefent fituation of these kingdoms, though critical, is refpectable; fince the bravery and fkill of our commanders by fea and land, that native hardiness and contempt of danger which characterise our feamen and foldiers, have fuffered no decay, and the nation certainly poffeffes many men illufrious for virtues, talents, and public fpirit.

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