Wanting an English Book for my Scholars to Tranflate, which might improve them in Senfe and Latin at once, (Two Things which Should never be divided in Teaching) I thought nothing more proper for that Purpofe than BACON'S ESSAYS, provided the English, which is in fome Places grown obfolete, were a little reformed, and made more fashionable. Accordingly having by me his Lordship's Latin Volume of the Effays, (which as it was a later, fo feems to be a

·a perfecter Book) I fell to Tranflating it,

tying my self firictly to the La

not to

tin, but comparing both Languages

together, and fetting down that

Senfe

Senfe (where there was any Difference) that feem'd the fulleft and plaineft. And fo much for the First Volume.

For the Second, it is Tranflated

all from his Lordship's Nine Books de Augmentis Scientiarum, excepting the last two or three Pages, which are transcribed from his Lordship's Advancement of Learning, written at first and published in Two Books in the English Tongue. The whole Nine Books I found rendred into English by Dr. Gilbert Wats of Oxford; to which Verfion I am fo much obliged, as not to think my Self at Liberty to mention the Faults

of its

As for the Original Essays, (and the Continued Ones are nothing inferior to them) his Lordship is bold to Say, That he conceives that the Latin Volume of them (being in the Univerfal Language) may laft as long as Books laft. And the English Volumes too may last as long as the English Tongue, if any one, once in a Century or two, would take the fame Pains that I have done, to repair the Decays of a fleeting Language.

As to my Part, which is Fidelity to my Author, and Correctness. of English, without any Apology of School-Avocations, I have endea vour'd Both to the utmost of my Power,

Power, and hope to have given Satisfaction: But if I fhould not, I can't Say I shall repent me of my Labour; fince I have gained thereby what I value much above the Credit of a good Tranflator; I mean, an Opportunity of discharging, in fome fort, an indispensable Duty, even that of Gratitude, to as Great, and as Good a Man, (and I thank God I flatter no Body) as this Nation can boast of.

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