IN it PREFACE. Na country, which has fo long held a distinguished place in the Republic of Letters as Great Britain, surprising that so small a share of attention should hitherto have been paid to the subject of this work. While the events of civil history have been related in every possible variety of method and language, and have been made the frequent subject of philosophical discusfion, a feries of facts, lefs adapted, indeed, to impress the imagination, but by no means less instructive, has been almost entirely overlooked. A British ftudent, who, in his fearch after truth, fhould be defirous of taking a general furvey of the rife and progrefs of opinions on the more important fubjects of fpeculation, and by a fair comparison of different fyftems to draw legitimate conclufions for himfelf, would feek in vain for the neceffary information in any English work. The only treatise, which might feem to promife him much affiftance on this fubject, is Stanley's Hiftory of Philofophy: but, to fay nothing of the uncouth and obfcure ftyle in which this work is written, he would find upon examination, that the author's plan extended little further than to the hiftory of the Grecian fects of philofophy; and that, in executing it, he has rather performed the office of an induftrious compiler, than that of a judicious critic. When, a few years ago, I first confulted Brucker's History of Philosophy *, it was merely in hopes of obtaining, from fo extensive and elaborate a work, further fatisfaction than I had hitherto been able to gain respecting the opinions of the antients; and the only use I then proposed to make of the book was, to borrow from it some assistance in drawing up a Course of Lectures to young men on the pursuit of knowledge. But upon a careful perusal of this history, I found it a vast magazine of important facts, collected with indefatigable industry, digested with admirable perfpicuity of method, and written with every appearance of candour and impartiality. I regretted that fo valuable a fund of information fhould be acceffible only to thofe, who had learning, leifure, and perfeverance fufficient, to read in Latin fix closely printed quarto volumes, containing on the average about a thousand pages each. I thought I could not render my countrymen better service, than * Edit. fec. Lipfiæ, 1767. by by taking upon myself to become, in this inftance, their reader; and determined to undertake the task of communicating to them, in their vernacular tongue, the SUBSTANCE of this great, and, as it appeared to me, valuable work. The task was not without difficulties. Having neither leifure, nor in many cafes opportunity, to compare the history with the numerous authorities to which it refers, I was obliged, for the most part, to give my author implicit credit for fidelity and accuracy. This, however, I thought myself justified in doing, partly because, wherever I have confulted the originals, I have found the quotations and references fufficiently correct; but chiefly, on account of the high reputation which the author has obtained upon the continent. I have, nevertheless, thought it right to give his references, as far as my plan would permit, that they may fulted by fuch readers as may wish to compare them with the work. In the selection of materials, I had no refource, but to rely upon my own judgment. The only rule I have followed has been, to chuse such particulars as were most likely to be generally interesting. Those who are inclined to enter into more minute inquiries, will of course confult the original authors; and for their convenience, a general lift of references be con |