 through that bright and busy Age so
nobly distinguished by the excellent Latin Poet.
 
Ad confligendum venientibus undique poenis;
Omnia cum belli trepido concussa tumultu
Horrida contremuere sub altis ætheris auris:
In dubioque fuit sub utrorum regna cadendum
Omnibus humanis esset, terraque marique.
 
Of which, we wish we could give our Reader a more adequate Translation than that
by Mr. Creech.
 
When dreadful Carthage frighted Rome with Arms,
And all the World was shook with fierce Alarms;
Whilst undecided yet, which Part should fall,
Which Nation rise the glorious Lord of all.
 
Now it is our Purpose in the ensuing Pages, to pursue a contrary Method. When
any extraordinary Scene presents itself (as we trust will often be the Case) we
shall spare no Pains nor Paper to open it at large to our Reader; but if whole
Years should pass without producing any thing worthy his Notice, we shall not be
afraid of a Chasm in our History; but shall hasten on to Matters of Consequence,
and leave such Periods of Time totally unobserved.
    These are indeed to be considered as Blanks in the grand Lottery of Time. We
therefore who are the Registers of that Lottery, shall imitate those sagacious
Persons who deal in that which is drawn at Guild-Hall, and who never trouble the
Public with the many Blanks they dispose of; but when a great Prize happens to
be drawn, the News-Papers are presently filled with it, and the World is sure to
be informed at whose Office it was sold: Indeed, commonly two or three different
Offices lay claim to the Honour of having disposed of it; by which I suppose the
Adventurers are given to understand that certain Brokers are in the Secrets of
Fortune, and indeed of her Cabinet-Council.
    My Reader then is not to be surprised, if in the Course of this Work, he
shall find some Chapters very short, and others altogether as long; some that
contain only the Time of a single Day, and others that comprise Years; in a
word, if my History sometimes seems to stand still, and sometimes to fly. For
all which I shall not look on myself as accountable to any Court of Critical
Jurisdiction whatever: For as I am, in reality, the Founder of a new Province of
Writing, so I am at liberty to make what Laws I please therein. And these Laws,
my Readers, whom I consider as my Subjects, are bound to believe in and to obey;
with which that they may readily and chearfully comply, I do hereby assure them
that I shall principally regard their Ease and Advantage in all such
