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whole together, and gave it to the Levites; still adding a few matters which were to be recorded after his ordering the Levites the charge of his books; namely, what we find from the 24th verse of the xxxist chapter of Deuteronomy to the end of the xxxiiid chapter; as Joshua afterwards added to what was left by Moses, the occurrences of the times that succeeded. In this manner, perhaps, we may fully account for all that can seem in any wise to intimate that we have not now the books of Moses in the order and form in which he left them; and this account of his books seems to me most likely to be the true one, and consequently most reasonable to be admitted.

As to the particulars contained in the ensuing volume, I must submit them to the reader; and I hope they may be received with that candour which has been shewn to my former volumes. What is now published might have been more various and entertaining, had it reached down to an age which could have afforded more matter of profane History to be interspersed in it. But divers of the Scripture occurrences herein treated

of, were not to be passed over cursorily; and the entering into these more largely obliged me to conclude this volume something short of the period at which I proposed to myself to end it. I am abundantly sensible of the obligations I am under to many of my superiors, for the reputation they give me by their favour, The truly great find a real pleasure in cherishing any well-inten ded endeavours of their inferiors. And if my abilities, as an author, were equal to the gratitude and inclination of my mind, I should well deserve the continuance of that good opinion which many persons, who are in stations above my being otherwise known to them, are pleased to conceive of me them selves, and to create of me in others. But I am afraid I should appear guilty of an act of vanity rather than of gratitude, if I were to proceed in intimations of this nature, or to say, how much the Right Honourable Mr. ONSLOW, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has been a patron of my studies in this manner.

My thanks are acknowledged to be due to a learned divine of a foreign University,

Mr. WOLLE of Leipsick, and also to Mr. ARNOLD, professor of the English and French Tongues there, for my reputation in their country. I am sorry that I am not able to read the translation of my books, which one of them has some years ago published in the German Tongue; and the very learned dissertation prefixed to that translation by the other. Hopes were at one time given me of seeing this dissertation in English, and from the short extract of it in our Republic of Letters, I cannot but think I should have satisfaction in every part of it, except in that which relates to my own character. I have not those abilities, which this learned divine ascribes to me. I may have been happy in the choice of a subject, which, if I could manage suitably, might afford a work very useful even to the learned world. I can only endeavour to go through it with as much attention as my situation in life will allow me; but am able to perform no part of it without many imperfections. My procedure in it must be by slow steps; being obliged many

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times to lay aside my studies on account of avocations, which in my circumstances must be attended to; and oftentimes to defer, or entirely to drop subjects which might be considered, as I can or cannot get a sight of books which would conduct my enquiries. However, if I find my endeavours continue acceptable to the public, I shall, as soon as I can, in one volume more, offer the remaining part of this undertaking.

SHELTON, NORFOLK,
Oct. 21, 1736.

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