CONCERNING THE

ENGLISH
NATION.

BY

Mr. DE VOLTA IR E.

LONDON,
Printed for C. DAVIS in Pater-Nofter-Row,
and A. LYON in Ruffel-Street, Covent-Garden.
MDCCXXXIII.

MVSEVM

BRITAN NICVM

THE

PREFACE.

T

HE prefent Work appears with Confidence in the Kingdom that gave Birth

to it: and will be well fatisfied with its Fortune, if it meets with as favourable a Reception as has been indulg'd to all the other Compofitions of its Author. The high Efteem which Mr. de Voltaire has always discover'd for the Englifh, is a Proof how ambitious he is of their Approbation. 'Tis now grown familiar to him, but then he is not tir'd with it; and indeed A 2

one

one wou'd be apt to think that this Circumftance is pleafing to the Nation, from the ftrong Dar fire they have to perufe whatever is publish❜d under his Name.

WITHOUT pretending therefore to any great Penetration, we may venture to affure him that his Letters will meet with all the Succefs that cou'd be wifh'd. Mr. de Voltaire is the Author of them, they were written in London, and relate particularly to the English Nation; three Circumftances which must neceffarily recommend them. The great Freedom with which Mr. de Voltaire delivers himself in his various Obfervations, cannot give him any Apprehenfions of their being lefs favourably receiv'd upon that Account, by a judicious People who abhor Flattery. The Englife are pleas'd to have their Faults pointed out to them, because this

fhews

fhews at the fame Time, that the Writer is able to distinguish their Merit.

WE muft however confefs, that thefe Letters were not defign'd for the Public. They are the Result of the Author's Complacency and Friendship for Mr. Thiriot, who had defir'd him, during his Stay in England, to favour him with fuch Remarks as he might make on the Manners and Customs of the British Nation. 'Tis well known that in a Correfpondence of this kind, the most just and regular Writer does not propofe to obferve any Method. Mr. de Voltaire in all Probability follow'd no other Rule in the Choice of his Subjects than his particular Tafte, or perhaps the Queries of his Friend. Be this as it will, 'twas thought that the most natural Order in which they cou'd be plac'd, A 3 would