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ERRATA.

5, line 13 from the bottom, for "should both have cried bee, bee," read "should both have cried bec, bec."

51, line the last, for "Semo sanco deo fideo," read "Semoni sanco," &c. 84, in the note, for "Vopici," read "Vopisci."

107, in the quotation from Virgil, for "pietæ," read " pictæ."

109, line 11, for "signalant," read " signalante."

167, fourth line of the Latin verses, for " victutis," read "virtutis."

199, line 12, for "Samasia," read "Samyasa."

266, for "La Tragedie eue pleurs," read" La Tragedie en pleurs."

279, line 11, for "gloriosi serit," read gloriosis erit."

359, line 29, for "Monsiegneur," read" Monseigneur."

370, line 2, for "Naoh," read "Noah."

371, line 32, for "who," read "whom."

375, line 21, for "tribuiter," read" tribuitur."

PREFACE;

INCLUDING A FEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE, CONDUCT, AND PHILOSOPHICAL WRITINGS OF VOLTAIRE.

THE Philosophical Dictionary of Voltaire is, probably, the only work from his hand which has not been adequately translated into the English language; and as the publishers of the following version can perceive no sufficing reason for this exception, they are induced to do it away by a translation as comprehensive as the present state of knowledge and the different circumstances of French and English readers will allow. Aware of the interested clamour and bigotry which pursue the name of this great and extraordinary author, it is not expected that the task will escape the censure of the most venal and the most active of all confederacies. But this is a trifle: it is not seen why a work, abounding in the most curious research, the most amusing anecdote, and the most lively wit, should not be naturalised as fully as possible, especially as its errors, like all other errors, are amenable to correction and reproof through the same medium which affords them publicity. For reasons, which no doubt they perfectly understand, it is a settled matter, indeed, on the part of certain tenacious thinkers, that wit is a weapon to be proscribed in all the contests in which they may happen to be engaged. The objection is, doubtless, disinterested; but as it happens that the aforesaid reasoners

are not very scrupulous in the choice of their own means of annoyance, or remarkable for any very merciful consideration of their opponents in the use of them, it is not seen why their antipathy to a particular one should be very deeply considered. Besides, the gravest of these personages must allow the extreme courtesy of an opponent, who seldom treads upon the toes of their prejudices without touching his hat with the most finished politeness.

Hume, in summing up the character of Queen Elizabeth, a masterpiece in its way, observes, that few great persons have been more exposed to the calumnies of enemies and the adulation of friends, than that celebrated sovereign; and yet that we scarcely hear of any one whose real pretensions are more certainly determined. He further observes, that the true way of estimating the merits of those who operate materially on the destinies of mankind, is to lay aside undue consideration of temper, amiability, and the other minor morals so requisite to the perfection of private life, and to attend in a greater degree to those leading qualities of mind and conduct, which have contributed to distinguish them from the great majority of their fellow creatures.

Upon something of the foregoing principle, it is thought that a brief estimate of the philosophical and social claims of Voltaire, by way of preface to the present translation, will not at this moment be unseasonable. It is not, however, intended either to conceal defects or to palliate culpability: while we hear of few names which the unsophisticated friends of general humanity, and the unequivocal enemies to bigotry, superstition, fraud, oppression, and cruelty, must necessarily regard with more complacency than that of Voltaire, there is none, possibly, the defence of

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