DRAWN FROM THE MOST AUTHENTIC SOURCES, AND DISPOSED IN A BY JOHN CHARNOCK, Esq. WITH PORTRAITS, AND OTHER ENGRAVINGS, BY BARTOLOZZI, &c. Nautæque, per omne Audaces mare qui currunt, hâc mente laborem HORACE, Sat. 1. Lib. 1. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: PRINTED FOR R. FAULDER, BOND-STREET. 1794. THE protection and patronage with which you have been pleased to honour the following sheets, are too valuable, too flattering to myfelf, to be concealed from the world; were lefs known and efteemed than you are, you I might proceed to recapitulate those more ferious obligations which bind me, in common with the rest of my countrymen, to respect and admire your character. BUT the general notoriety, Sir, of your public fervices makes fuch a detail unneceffary from any individual, while the uniform testimony A 3 [vi] teftimony which men of all ranks and all parties have born to your abilities and integrity, would render the smallest attempt at a competent applause, from fo humble a pen as mine, fulfome to the public and troublesome to yourself. I have the honor to be, SIR, your most obedient and most humble fervant, LONDON, Sept. 29, 1794. JOHN CHARNOCK. PRE PREFACE. HAT particular influence which frequently TH fways the human mind, and has been, in modern times, generally distinguished by the well-known phrafe, popular opinion, has, probably, proved a greater impediment to historical truth than even that venerable scepticism which attends antiquity, and involves, in fo pleafing a doubt and obfcurity, the events of ages long fince past. The birth and nurture of this monfter in literature has fo roufed and encouraged the labours both of calumny and panegyric, that it is a matter of fome difficulty to decide which has been the moft ingenious, fpirited and indefatigable. The more exalted the rank, and meritorious the fervice of any particular perfonage, the greater extent does he furnifh for thofe lifts in which the tournament is to be held for the establishment or destruction of his pofthumous reputation. The event of this conteft might be expected to produce truth, but this is not invariably the cafe; and it has become a very grievous task to fuperfede those decrees which, however unjust they may be, the authors of them endeavour to pro¬ pagate as fixt and immutable, at the fame time they wish to impress the idea, and, indeed, univerfal belief of their candour and propriety. |