to have to speak to my King in a Language which he delights in, and is thoroughly Master of: Neither can I labour without having his Royal Service and fupreme Approbation in View.

I ALLOW before-hand all the Criticisms that may be made on the Turn of Phrafe, which muft needs fometimes lean towards the Italian, as alfo on the Stile, which is not uniform throughout, and on fome Terms that may be obsolete; for living Languages are like the Men the Platonicians fpeak of, idem & alterum. In fhort, if I have explained myself fufficiently, it is as much as can be expected from a Foreigner,

I SHALL

I SHALL not, however, fhew the fame Unconcern about a Criticism on my Sentiments; and as I fhall endeavour to profit by the Knowledge and Reflections of fuch learned Men as perfuade and convince, I shall take no Notice of all those who, not knowing how to explain themselves, impertinently knock one down with a Heap of pedantic Authorities and frivolous Arguments.

As the Merit of the Author of The Spirit of Laws had long prepoffeffed me in Favour of fome of his former Pieces, I immediately fet about canvaffing that Work, dazzled with the Title and Defign of it. I found

the

the Enterprize magnificent, and worthy of the Author's great Genius : It abounds with ingenious Thoughts, learned Arguments, and noble Sentitiments; though sometimes in so long a Career, his Mind unbends and flags; and too often he wants Courage to fhake off a certain Yoke that cramps his Ideas.

As I did not expect to see him act the Part of a rigid Divine, I was the less ftartled at certain Propofitions, which have fhocked a fcrupulous Critic, for want of putting a right Construction on the Author's Words and Intention. I should be very forry to have done the fame in fome Remarks I have occafionally made on certain Propofi

tions

tions which I could not relifh.

But I

hope I have, in those Remarks, preferved all the Regard due to an Author of his distinguished Birth, Rank, and Merit.

As for the reft, if we are not agreed about the effential Article, Revealed Religion, to which I inviolably adhere; What matters it in this Cafe? Is it not lawful to reafon about Law, Politicks, Philosophy, and Morality alfo, with Heathen Philofophers, Rabbins, Mufti's, Gymnofophifts, and all the Literati of China and Japan?

HOWEVER, it would be intolerable Injuftice, to impute Irreligion to the

Author

Author of The Spirit of Laws, after all that he himself has faid of it in his Work, as well as in his prudent Apology, which I cease not to admire, on Account of the incomparable Tranquillity he therein manifefts. Surely a Man must be very certain of what he is about, to fight thus coolly and deliberately.

So much by way of Preface.

THE