THE Value of fuch an Example, enhanced by being fo rare in Hiftory, and the Moderation with which your Majefty enjoys its divine Fruits, crowns the true Happiness of your People, and at once attracts and fixes for ever the Admiration and Applause of all the Earth.

WERE my Heart capable of containing the whole of that Admiration and Applaufe, it would be impoffible for me to be more penetrated than I am

with fuch Sentiments, or with that Refpect, Veneration and Submiffion, with which I fhall

ever remain.

Your Majefty's

moft humble,

moft obedient, and

moft faithful Servant,

De Cataneo.

THE

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READER.

F

OR an Italian to write in French,

I must confefs, is too bold an Undertaking; but what is it that a Man will not attempt for the publick Good? The Language of France is

the

the most prevalent in Europe, and withal the most natural and free; Circumstances not a little to the Honour of that learned and polite Nation.

FOR twenty Years paft I have indeed carried on a literary Correfpondence in French, and may perhaps have tolerably well acquitted myself of it: But there is a wide Difference between writing private Letters, and compofing for the Prefs; and I muft either fubmit to it, or not publish this Work. Befides, the Authors at whom most of my Reflections are levelled, might never come to the Knowledge of it unless by unfaithful Reports, had I continued to write in Italian, as I have done on o

ther

ther Subjects already published; and it might even be deemed impertinent, to attack them in a Language which, poffibly, they do not understand.

IT may probably be faid, of this Work, that it is faulty in the Stile, that the Language is not pure and elegant, nor the Orthography modern. I fhall give up all this; and obferve only, that if I do not always exprefs Things fo well as it might be wished, 'tis owing to my writing in a Lanthat is not natural to me.

guage

BUT if these Excufes fhould not be allowed, I fhould nevertheless be justified by the great Desire I ought

to