IT may not be unnecessary to inform the Reader, that the following Reflections bad their origin in a correspondence between the Author and a very young gentleman at Paris, who did him the bonour of defiring his opinion upon the important tranfactions, which then, and ever fince, bave fo much occupied the attention of all men. An answer was written fame time in the month of October 1789; but it was kept back upon prudential confiderations. That letter is alluded to in the beginning of the following sheets. It bas been fince forwarded to the perfan to whom it was addressed. The reafons for the delay in fending it were affigned in a Short letter to the fame gentleman. This produced on his part a new and preffing application for the Author's Sentiments. The Author began a fecond and more full difcuffion on the Jubject. This be bad fome thoughts of publishing early in the laft fpring; but the matter gaining upon bim, be found that what he had undertaken not only far exceeded the measure of a letter, but that its importance required rather a more detailed confideration than at that time be bad any leifure to bestow upon it. However, having thrown down bis first thoughts in the form of a letter, and indeed when be fat down to write, baving intended it for a private letter, be found it difficult to change the form of addrefs, when his fentiments bad grown into a greater extent, and bad received another direction. A different plan, be is fenfible, might be more favourable to a commodious divifion and diftribution of his matter. |