THE ANNUAL REGISTER, OR A VIEW OF THE H I S T ORY, S T , AND LI T E R A T U RE, For the YEAR 1780. LONDON : P R E F A C E. AS S it would give us the greatest con cern, that any part of that Public, to whom we owe such long-continued and infinite obligations, should attribute the lateness of our publication, either to an unthankful remiffness on our side, or to a presumptuous confidence on their favour, we think it necessary at this time to say a few words upon the subject. Our first considerable failure in point of time, proceeded from unavoidable misfortune; from long and dangerous illness; a fort of interruption, which a course of years must be expected naturally to produce. Whoever will at all consider the nature of an annual work, of great diver sity, |