ered by himself. In a work contain-
ing many particulars, both new and
abftrufe, it was difficult to express ev-
ery article with fufficient perfpicuity;
and, after all the pains bestowed, there
remained certain paffages which are
generally thought obfcure. The au-
thor, giving an attentive ear to every
cenfure of that kind, has, in the prefent
edition, renewed his efforts to correct eve-
ry defect; and he would gladly hope that
he has not been altogether unfuccefs ful.
The truth is, that a writer, who must be
poffeffed of the thought before he can
put it into words, is but ill qualified to
judge whether the expreffion be fuf-
ficiently clear to others in that partic-
ular, he cannot avoid the taking on him
to judge for the reader, who can much
better judge for himself.