PRINTED FOR JOHN STOCKDALE, PICCADILLY.

M DCC XC.

THE

PREFACE.

IT

is always happy when private amusement can be made fubfervient to general convenience. Having enjoyed a pleasure in collecting the Treaties between Great Britain and other nations, in adjufting their dates, and in comparing their provifions, I prefumed to think that, were I to publifh the refult of my enquiries, ftatefimen, whofe duty leads them to confult national conventions, might find an utility where I had discovered the gratifications of research and acquifi

tion.

Without the correspondence of Du Mont, the learning of Barbeyrac, or the zeal of Rouffet, it had been eafy to print a voluminous collection of treaties. My object, however, was not to make a big book, but an ufeful book; a commodious felection, which might lie handily on the table, and be readily infpected. With this defign, I have printed, in the following fheets, thofe treaties which are most frequently perused: I have referred to thofe treaties which are often confulted.

The collections of national conventions, which were published at fucceffive periods, and in different countries, have not been always conveniently arranged, or accurately printed, at the fame time that they were univerfally allowed to be ufeful. They generally followed, indeed, a chronological order. But, from the vaft

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