Ĉ 6-17-41 MES BEQUEST OF A. L. CROSS 4-8-41 PREFACE ΤΟ THE SECOND VOLUME. IN presenting the Second and last Volume of the Life of William III. to the public, some apology may perhaps be necessary for the delay that has unavoidably occurred in its progress. Called, since the former volume was committed to press, to the discharge of important public duties, it has only been during the Parliamentary recess that I have been enabled to bestow, on such a task, the undivided attention it imperatively required; and it is not without some misgiving, that even now do I trust its merits or errors to the criticism of a discerning world. The almost unhoped-for kind reception its predecessor has experienced does not altogether tend to allay this apprehension. I am but too sensible it imposes upon me a consequent responsibility to which I cannot but fear my most favouring readers will scarcely consider me to have done justice. To escape altogether the charge of being somewhat of a partisan, is, I believe, admitted by all who may have recorded the events of any period of history, to be impossible; still I will venture to hope that no bitterness of spirit marks any of the pages in this work, nor are glaring facts, or even assumed charges, glossed over by means of subterfuge, or with the aid of plausibility. Such a course could not fail to destroy the main interest in an attempted narration of one of the most remarkable eras of the religious and political history both of England and Europe. I cannot conclude these prefatory remarks without recording my deep and lasting sense of obligation to many persons,-some actual strangers, — who have voluntarily tendered the assistance both of their information and literary stores. Among these it is my pleasing duty especially to mention Sir John Mordaunt, Bart.; the Rev. Archdeacon Todd; the Rev. William Steven, Minister of the National Scotch Church at Rotterdam; and William James Smith, Esq., Librarian to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham: nor can I omit expressing my gratitude to the noble owner of Stowe, for the kindness and liberality which allowed me at all times free access to those treasures of historic lore that princely mansion is so well known to contain, and to which the accomplished taste of its present possessor has so materially added. In taking leave of the public as an author, probably for a length of time, and possibly for ever, let me offer my respectful thanks for the indulgence the former volume of this work has received at their hands; and while I humbly, but anxiously, venture to express a hope that its suc PREFACE. cessor may not altogether disappoint their, it is to be feared, too favourable anticipations, I have only to add, that if I can, in these volumes, be considered to have thrown any new light on a period often indeed alluded to, but obviously little really known, or appreciated according to its merits, or essential importance to the Protestant cause, — if I have, in any way the most distant, aided the interests of sound religion and rational liberty, my labours are more than rewarded. With these feelings I commit them, such as they are, to the criticism of, perhaps, a severe, but at the same time a discerning and generous world. WICKEN PARK, Near Stoney Stratford, Northamptonshire, Saturday, April 9th, 1836. ARTHUR TREVOR. |