LONDON: Mr. James DodsLEY, ALLEN, AND CO. ; E. JEFFERY; AND VERNOR AND HOOD, + P R E F A C E. THE year a of which we treat, notwithstanding the peaceable aspect of the times, has not been unproductive of events, which claim a considerable degree of attention. Of these, the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain and Naples is not the least extraordinary, nor likely to be the least considerable in its consequences. The affairs of Poland have attracted much of the general attention of Europe; and, it is to be hoped, are now settled upon an happy and perinanent basis. The origin of the late disputes, the past and present state of the Dissidents, and many particularities relative to the history and government of that country, which were requisite to be known, to form a proper judgment of those transactions, were but little considered or understood in this part of the world. We have therefore given our readers all the satisfaction on those heads, which the materials that we could procure would afford, and the plan of our work allow. The subject is indeed peculiarly interesting : |