This industrious project he purfued occafionally in French, under various titles, and with the minutenefs, fidelity, and liberality of a mind refolved to watch over and improve itfelf. The Journal is continued under different titles, and is fometimes very concife, and fometimes fingularly detailed. One part of it is entitled "My Journal," another "Ephemerides, "or Journal of my Actions, Studies, and Opi"nions." The other parts are entitled, "Ephe"merides, ou Journal de ma Vie, de mes Etudes, et de mes Sentimens." In this Journal, among the moft trivial circumftances, are mixed very interefting obfervations and differtations on a Satire of Juvenal, a Paffage of Homer, or of Longinus, or of any other author whose works he happened to read in the course of the day; and he often paffes from a Remark on the most common event, to a critical Difquifition of confiderable learning, or an Enquiry into fome abftrufe point of Philofophy. It certainly was not his intention that this private and motley Diary fhould be prefented to the Public; nor have I thought myself at liberty to present it, in the fhape in which he left it. But by reducing it to an account of his literary occupations, it formed fo fingular and memory and fo interesting a portrait of an indefatigable Student, that I perfuade myself it will be regarded as a valuable acquifition by the Literary World, and as an acceffion of fame to the With the Extracts of my Friend. from Mr. Gibbon's Journal will be printed, his Differtations entitled "Extraits raisonnés "de mes Lectures:" and "Recueil de mes Obfervations, et Pieces détachées fur dif "férens Sujets." A few other paffages from other parts of the Journals, introduced in Notes, will make a curious addition to the Memoirs. His First Publication, "Effai fur l'Etude "de la Litterature," with corrections and additions from an interleaved copy which my Friend gave to me feveral years ago, is reprinted as part of these volumes. Three more of his smaller Publications are alfo reprinted. 1. His masterly Criticism on the Sixth Book of Virgil, in answer to Bishop Warburton, 2. His own Vindication of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Chapters of his Hiftory, in anfwer to Mr. Davis and others. And 3. His "Reponse à l'Expofé de la Cour de "France,' —an occafional compofition, which obtained the highest applause in Foreign Courts, and of which he spoke to me with fome plea fure, fuch Notes of my own, as it seemed neceffary to add. It remains only to exprefs a wifh, that in discharging this latest office of affection, my regard to the memory of my Friend may appear, as I trust it will do, proportioned to the high fatisfaction which I enjoyed for many years in poffeffing his entire confidence, and very partial attachment. SHEFFIELD-PLACE, SHEFFIELD. OF THE FIRST VOLUME. THE AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION. Account and anecdotes of his family. South Sea fcheme, and the bill of pains and penalties The Author is fent to Dr. Wooddefon's fchool, whence he is removed on the death of his mother.-Affecti- Is entered at Westminster fchool; is removed on account The Author determines to write an hiftory; its fubject. is converted to the Roman Catholic religion; cites The Author is removed to Lausanne, and placed under the care of Mr. Pavilliard.Reflections on his change of fituation.-Character of Mr. Pavilliard, 41 The Author's account of the books he read, and of the courfe of ftudy he purfued. Mr. Gibbon makes the tour of Switzerland; forms a cor- refpondence with feveral literary characters; is intro- duced to Voltaire, and fees him perform feveral cha- racters in his own plays.-Remarks on his acting. Some account of Mademoiselle Curfhod, (afterwards Ma- dame Necker) Reflections on his education at Laufanne; he returns to England;-his manner of Mr. Gibbon publishes his firft work, Effai fur l'Etude de la Litterature. Some obfervations on the plan, and the character of the performance.--Character of Dr. бо Mr. Gibbon refumes his ftudies; determines to write upon fome hiftorical fubject; confiders various fubjects, and makes remarks upon them for that purpofe.-Sees Maller's Elvira performed.-Character of that play. 105 The Author pafics fome time at Paris, gives an account Some account of Mr. Gibbon's fudies at Laufanne, pre- paratory to his Italian journey.He travels into Italy; his feelings and obfervations upon his arrival at Rome. He returns to England.-His reflections upon Deyverdun. He writes, and communicates to his friends, an hiftorical Effay upon the Liberty of the Swifs.Their unfavourable judgment. Mr. |