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النشر الإلكتروني

THE fame impartiality makes me here fupprefs the encomiums which are due to you, and which a nother would not fail to be lavish of.

This fhould be, in effect, the place for praising the judgment, equity, and good tafle which you always make appear in all the things for which you declare yourselves: but I am afraid that the abuse which the most part of writers make of panegyrics in their dedicatory epiftles will make mine be fufpected, and that they will reproach me with endeavouring to furprize, by this charm, your integrity, in favour of the work which I have the honour to present to you; but this is far from my mind. Every author, who would be well received by the public, ought to carry his recommendation along with him; for he who is a ftranger to that is most commonly fufpected.

Do this book then only the honour to read it, with all the attention and reflexion which the importance of the subject it treats of requires; that is all the favour I here afk for it. I give you full li. berty with regard to the judgment you will be pleafed to pass upon it, which, I hope, will be favourable, in return for the pains which I have taken to render it agreeable to you. If it happens that, contrary to

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my intention, and notwithstanding all my efforts, I have not fucceeded, it will be but loft time for both you and me; for which I fhall not be with less efteem and refpect,

GENTLEMEN and LADIES,

Your most humble and very

affectionate fervant ***:

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