J Bonneau Fesit.

HISTORY

O F

MA

Displaying the

N:

Various Powers, Faculties, Capacities,
Virtues, Vices, and Defects of the
HUMAN MIND:

As Exhibited

In the Conduct, Sentiments, great Undertakings,
Improvements, and Attainments, as well in the
Arts Civil as Military, of the moft EXTRA-
ORDINARY GENIUS's, in the different Ages
and Nations of the World.

Digested under PROPER HEADS.

The Whole Interspers'd with

MORAL REFLECTIONS.

AND

Calculated to increase Knowledge, to promote Virtue,
to discourage Vice, and to furnish Topics for in-
nocent and ingenious Conversation.

PRECEPTS may lead us, but EXAMPLES draw.
In Two VOLUME S.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

Printed for M. COOPER, at the Globe in Pater-
nofter Row. MDCCXLVI.

223.

k
95.

PREFACE.

HO' the generality of men are naturally defirous of knowledge, ambitious of being let into the fecrets of Nature, and covet to be acquainted with all kinds of uncommon occur rences; yet have they a difficult employment that undertake to be their guide, in exhibiting fuch inftances as immediately conduce to their information. For tho' the office is honourable, and has been attempted in all learned languages by the moft celebrated authors, both ancient and modern, yet the fubject is fo obnoxious to error, the track fo rough and uneven, and readers fo prepoffefs'd with preju dices, jealoufies and cenforioufnefs, that the diligent collectors of fuch examples oftner meet with reproaches than teftiA 3

monies