THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

Among the different works which have lately appeared in anEnglifh drefs, from thc prolific German pen, there are fewwhich poflefs an equal fhare of merit with the prefent Travels;though originally written in an uncouth and almoft barbarousftyle.

The illuftrious Author has fpent the greater part of hisufeful life in Ruffia, where the German language is indeedoften fpoken at Court, as well as among the learned and mer-chants ; but the different German works, printed in that country,bear evident marks of being compofed in a foreign climate.Such is particularly the cafe with Profeffor Pallas's Travels, boththe former and the prefent, which ought to have been carefullyrevifed by one of his literary friends at Leipzig, before theywere committed to the prefs. Thus, the tafk impofed uponthe Tranflator might have been rendered eafy and pleafant;it would have faved him many valuable hours which he hasreluctantly waftcd in unravelling the Author's perplexed andfwollen periods; or, in afcertaining the exadt meaning of hisobfolete phrafes. On comparing the German, or even theFrench with the Englifh edition, the intelligent reader who isconverfant with thofe languages, will readily admit the juftice

of