a monument of his friendship with the gentleman to whom they are addreffed. When Mr. Forfter's tranflation of Baron Riedefel's book firft appeared, these Letters were already in the press, and the Author apprehended an anticipation of his fubject; however, on perufal he had the fatisfaction to find, that the two works did not much interfere. In tranfcribing them for the prefs, he found it neceffary both to retrench and to amplify; by which the ease of the epiftolary style has probably fuffered, and fome of the letters have been extended much beyond their original length. He He now presents them to the Public with the greatest diffidence; hoping that fome allowance will be made for the very inconvenient circumstances, little favourable to order or precifion, in which many of them were written: But he would not venture to newmodel them; apprehending, that what they might gain in form and expreffion, they would probably lose in ease and fimplicity; and well knowing that the original impreffions are better described at the moment they are felt, than from the moft exact recollection. LETTER III. p. 53. Harbour of Meffia.--Charybdis.-Galleys.— Vifit to a convent.-Feast of St. Francis. -Advantages of Messina for valetudina rians. LETTER IV. p. 73. Sicilian banditti.-A famous diver.-Charybdis.Feast of the Vara.- Singular phenomenon. LETTER V. p. 99. Journey to Taurominum.-Coaft of Sicily.Nebrodes.-Theatre of Taurominum.— Naumachia.-Refervoirs, &c. LETTER VI. p. III. > Journey to faci-Mount Etna-Piedmonte -Small volcanos. -Torrent of boiling water-Great Chefnut trees.-Age of the lava.-River of Acis. LET |