!

a diftinction. When the words are contained in a fentence or two, they are thofe which, were actually spoken: When they run into length, the writer is in part anfwerable for them.

I have been told, that I fhall draw enmities upon myself from the defcendants of fome great families, whose actions I have represented in colours belied by the principles and actions of their pofterity; and that it was not to be expected, that a man of a whig family fhould have been the first to expofe to the public the intrigues of the whig-party at St. Germains.

I am fenfible, that here I tread upon tender ground. Every man who treats of party-matters in Britain, muft expect to make enemies on the one fide or the other. And I truly believe I shall make enemies on both fides. But this is a price which we muft all pay for our liberty; and God grant that it may long continue fo. Yet, perhaps, I may find quarter from those who confider that I treat of my own ancestors, furely not. the most inconfiderable in the united kingdom, as well as of theirs whom I may be fuppofed to offend; that I have an equal reverence for "mine, as they can have for theirs; but that I have a much greater reverence for truth than for either. The first perfon who told me that there was evidence exifting at Paris of the whig-intrigues with St. Germains immediately after the revolution, was Mr. Hume. After I had fatisfied myself that

his information was juít, I told the great perfon by whofe advice I undertook thefe Memoirs, that I had feen too much, and that I was afraid I must quit the fubject. But his ideas of the regard which an hiftorian owes to what he believes to be truth, shewed me the meanness of my own fears.

Some perfons have complained to me, that, in the fecond part of this work, I fpeak too favourably of King James; I gave them this anfwer, That, though I would draw my fword against his family, I would not do injuftice to any of their characters; and that I lived under a Prince who will not think the worfe of his fubjects for avowing fuch fentiments.

I was obliged for fome new views of my fubject to that flore of original genius which animates the converfation of Lord Elibank. Mr. Hume corrected fome erroneous views I had taken; appearing more anxious about my literary reputation than I am myfelf. I would return my thanks to feveral other of my friends for their corrections of the ftyle, were I not afraid to make them anfwerable for the faults that have escaped them. Yet Lord Littelton, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Blair of Edinburgh, will pardon my mentioning their names, because they called my attention to that picturefque fimplicity and choice of circumstances, which diftinguifh the hiftorical compofitions of the ancients; beauties, which, if I have not been able to imitate, I am fure I feel,

ORIGINAL PREFACE

TO THE

VOLUME of STATE PAPERS annexed to the MEMOIRS, and which are contained in the PRESENT EDITION.

THE

papers contained in this collection are fo very interefting, that the Public has a right to know from what fources they are drawn.

His Majesty gave orders that I should have access to the cabinet of King William's private papers; justly confidering hiftory to be the science of kings, and willing that the actions of other princes fhould be tried by that tribunal of public inquiry, which, he has reafon to truft, will do honour to his own.

Among many other papers in that cabinet, which throw a blaze of light upon the hiftory of the laft age, there are about two hundred letters from King James to the Prince of Orange. There

9

There is one confiderable chafm in the corre fpondence, but this is luckily filled up by about fifty letters from the king to the prince, in the poffeffion of doctor Morton of the Museum, who, with his ufual politenefs, permitted me to take copies. I believe that in thefe two collections there is not one letter wanting that King James ever wrote to the Prince of Orange.

The earl of Hardwicke, from a partiality to me which I cannot be fo affectedly modeft as to conceal, gave me copies of feveral curious manufcripts from the treasures of historical knowledge in his poffeffion.

The earl of Dartmouth communicated to me, with other papers, a collection of letters between his gallant ancestor and King James, which, with memoirs of Bing, lord Torrington, in manuscript, that I received from lord Hardwicke, will, I believe, throw a new light upon the fhare which the officers of the fleet had in the revolution, and of the wife and honourable - part which the commander of it acted.

Mr. Graham of Netherby was fo obliging as to permit me to keep in my hands, for many months, five volumes of his ancestor lord Preston's dispatches.

The reverend doctor North gave me the use of a variety of manufcript memorandums, written

by

by his ancestor, lord keeper Guildford; one of the very few virtuous characters in public life, I am forry to fay it, that are to be found in the hiftory of the reign of Charles the fecond.

Lord Rochford accommodated me with orders for copies of whatever public papers I wanted. For, attached to his prince, and a friend to that liberty, the love of which is inherent in the family of Naffau, he wished to fee juftice done to a revolution, in the conduct of which his ancestor acted fo able a part; and which, by making the people safe, gave room for loyalty to the prince to become a virtue in the fubject.

I have been obliged for papers to feveral other perfons, whofe names will be feen when the papers are recited.

But, perhaps, the perfon to whom I owe the greatest obligations of all, is doctor Douglas *, canon of Windfor; because he made me mafter of the use of thofe materials, which others only furnished. I know that he, who fees all men's merits but his own, will impute this avowal to the partiality of a friend; and when he does, he will flatter me greatly.

Notwithstanding thefe advantages, I ftill felt an uneafinefs, which only thofe who are intent

VOL. I.

*Now Bishop of Carlisle.

C

upon