ADVERTISEMENT. AT the clofe of the Fourth Volume of the Reports of the late War, the Engagements of the Editor feemed, for a time at leaft, to have terminated, with the subject matter on which they had been employed. The Recommencement of Hoftilities has opened fources of fresh materials; and, under the fame hope of contributing usefully to the ftock of public information, this Work is again refumed, and will proceed in the fame order and form, and under the fame general affurances that were originally profeffed. 1 During the progrefs of a work of this kind, the task of selection leads gradually to the exercife of a more minute discretion, upon which, different judgments may occafionally be formed, as to the relative importance of particular Cafes. All difficulty of explanation, however, on this point, will be best relieved, by adopting the words of Lord Bacon, who, with reference to another science, thus distinctly marks (4) the rule, which will, with equal propriety, apply to all works of a fimilar description: "We do not "mean that this work fhould extend to every com 66 mon cafe that happens every day, which were an "infinite labor and to little purpose, nor yet to "exclude all but prodigies and wonders; for many "things are new in their manner and circumftances, "which are not fo in their kind; and he who looks "attentively, will find many particulars worthy of “observation, in what seems common. Advancement of Learning, p. 144. Dodors Commons, Feb. 23, 1805. 08. 22, 1806. |