fumes, in a great measure, the appearance and character of a New Work.

It may not be improper here to obferve, that none of the tears fhed over the memory of those who fell the martyrs of principlewhatever were their political or religious opinions-have here been wiped away; while at the fame time fresh execrations have been heaped on the memories of those who, under the pretext of fupporting public liberty, aimed a mortal ftab at the heart of freedom, through the vitals of humanity. An endeavour has at the fame time been made, to foar above the elamour of national prejudices, and the narrow fpirit of party politics, in order to attain that liberality of fentiment, which anticipates the decifions of impartial pofterity. London, March 1, 1799.

Lately havebeen publifhed, by R. PHILLIPS, price half a crown each, Three of the most admired of the Plays of the celebrated KOTZEBUE, faithfully tranflated from the German by Miss PLUMPTRE, VIZ.

THE NATURAL SON (Lovers Vows).

THE COUNT of BURGUNDY.

THE VIRGIN of the SUN.

And in the course of March will be published, Two other

favourite Dramas by the fame Author, viz.

THE VOLUNTARY SACRIFICE, and
THE DEATH of ROLLA.

PREFACE

PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE FIRST EDITION.

THE Editor of this Volume of BIOGRA PHICAL ANECDOTES, prefents it to the Public with fome degree of confidence. Whatever may be its literary merit, it at least posfeffes, with refpect to materials, the recommendation of Novelty. No Work, embracing the fame object, has yet appeared either in this Country, or on the Continent: it is therefore obvious, that the collector can have been little indebted to the labouts of contemporaries, and may, without prefumption, lay claim to public attention on account of the originality of his information.

It may, perhaps, excite fome furprise, that the Editor fhould have been enabled to form a Work, not contemptible in fize, wholly confifting of original fketches of characters, which have, in the courfe of the French Re

volution,

volution, started in fuch vaft numbers, from obfcurity into eminence, and fome account will reafonably be required of the authenticity of the fources from which fuch minute details have been fupplied. Though various circumftances, which it is unneceflary to specify, prevent the particular mention of the perfons to whom he ftands indebted for information, he can affure his Readers, that he has received ample communications from various well-informed Foreigners, fome of whom have been perfonally connected with the events which they relate; and alfo from Englishmen, who have refided in France during nearly the whole period of the Revolution. Were he permitted to add their names, they would reflect no small degree of refpectability upon his Work. For its authenticity, however, he can confidently vouch; as he has relied, not upon vague rumour, but upon direct information from perfons intimately conversant with the facts, and well acquainted with the characters which are the fubject of thefe Memoirs.

After the Editor's utmost care, it is probable that many inaccuracies may have escaped correction. In collecting fugitive informa

tion, and recording the events of the paffing
day, fome indulgence for trivial overfights
may
be claimed. If Gallicifms fhould fome-
times be detected, the Reader will have the
candour to recollect, that a great part of the
materials for this Work was furnished by
Frenchmen. Should any material errors in
point of fact have efcaped the Editor, he ear-
neftly folicits fpeedy correction, and more
complete information.

In exhibiting characters now, or lately
living, it was impracticable to attempt any
diftinct claffification, or chronological ar-
rangement; but an endeavour has been made
to fupply, in fome measure, this defect, by
means of an Alphabetical Table of Contents.

Upon the interefting nature of this publi-
cation, it is wholly unneceffary to expatiate.
Memorials of men who have borne an active,
and many of them a principal part, in one of
the greatest events in the moral and political
history of the world, muft intereft every one
who wishes well to his fpecies. It is impof-
fible to recollect without horror, that about
one half of the perfons mentioned in this Vo-
lume, have fallen victims to political prenzy
under the guillotine. The fudden and afto-

nishing

nifhing viciffitudes of fortune, exhibited in the condition of individuals, afford a moft inftructive leffon to their cotemporaries. The dreadful wafte of human talents and virtues, and alfo of human existence, which has accompanied this grand effort for the recovery of political freedom, muft fill every benevolent mind with infinite regret. Nor can any thing relieve the painful feelings excited by the first part of this diftreffing drama, but the trembling hope" of a happy termination, in which the VAST PRICE which has been paid for the purchase of liberty, will be abundantly recompenfed in the happiness of COUNTLESS MILLIONS yet unborn.

No. 71, St. Paul's Church-Yard,
Sept. 24, 1797.

About the middle of March will be published, a new, corrected, and enlarged Edition, of the popular and much approved Work, entitled, PUBLIC CHARACTERS of 1798, confifting of Biographical Memoirs of Eighty of the most diftinguished Perfonages now living, who are natives of Great Britain or Ireland, with Thirty Characteristic Portraits, price 8s. 6d. boards. Two thoufand copies of the first edition of this work were fold within the Space of five weeks!