PREFACE.

I NOW discharge my pr&mise, and completemy design of writing the History of the Declineand Fall of the Roman Empire, both in theWest and the East. The whole period ex-tends from the age of Trajan and the Anto-nines, to the taking of Constantinople by Ma-homet II. ; and includes a review of the cru-sades and the state of Rome during the middleages. . Since the publication of the first* vo-lume, twelve years have elapsed ; twelve years,according to my wish, “ of health, of leisure,“ and of perseverance.” I may now congratu-late my deliverance from a long and laboriousservice, and my satisfaction Mill be pure andperfect, if the public favour should be extend-ed to the conclusion of my work.

It was my first intention to have collected,under one view, the numerous authors, of everyage and language, from whom I have derivedthe materials of this history ; and I am stillconvinced that the apparent ostentation wouldbe more than compensated by real use. If Ihave renounced this idea; if I have declinedan undertaking which had obtained the appro-bation of a master-artist,f my excuse may be

* Alluding to the Quarto Edition, in which size the Work was oii-ginally published.

t See Dr. Robertson's Preface to his History of America.

vol. vii. a