History of the Irish Brigades in the Service of France - From the Revolution in Great Britain and Ireland Under James II., To the Revolution in France Under Louis XVI #232903

The Publishers Note. The Publishers consider it requisite to observe, that the earlier sheets of this important work are chiefly and necesserily occupied by what may be termed the Army-List portion of it; or accounts of the several Jacobite regiments, with corresponding notices of their successive commanding officers, of the most distinguished families of Ireland, engaged at first in the AYar of the Revolution there, and subsequently in the campaigns on the Continent. Such preliminary details, though as essential for an honest or correct treatment, as for a proper comprehension, of the subject, and very attractive for many connected with the families thus noticed, may not be so agreeable to the taste of the general reader. But he will be amply compensated, for the intervention of such introductory particulars, by the remaining narrative, respecting hostile dynasties and conflicting nations for a century, extending from Book III. to Book X.There he will find the<br>"Battles, blood, and rage,<br>which princes and their people did engage;<br>A larger scene of action is display'd;<br>And, rising hence, a greater work is weigh'd."<br>Deyde: sYiegil, neis, ii., 60-67.<br><br>Nor will those sheets, containing the indispensable regimental and family preliminaries referred to, be without interest, on several points, for the public at large. The campaign of Newtownbutler, for example, will be read by every one; and the authors clear, broad-minded, and liberal account of the great triumph of the men of Enuiskillen will be uly appreciated by all parties.<br><br>To compress into ciphers, rather than spread into words, whatever the former appeared more specially designed to express, has been adhered to by the author as a general rule; and so, it may be thought, to an extreme extent, as in preferring, for example, to write even 1 or 2, rather in figures, than in letters. But this, even if objected to, will not, it is hoped, be reckoned anything beyond an excusable peculiarity by those, who judge a book in the fair or liberal spirit of the poets remark, that<br>"He, who expects a perfect work to see.<br>Expects what never was, and ne er will be."