Blair Collection > Archaeologia Britannica, giving some account additional to what has been hitherto publish'd, of the languages, histories and customs of the original inhabitants of Great Britain

THE DEDICATI ON.
You were pleafed to add, has occafion'd no fmall Uneafinefs, Hov\'
far the Time required in the compiHng this Book may A[>ologize,
I know not. All I fhall fay is, that though amongft the Infinite
Number of Learned Men in the Kingdom, there be but few who
can judge of the Performance in each Language, yet there are a
Great many that can, of the Labour fuch a Book requires, and
whether beiides thofe Countries Particularly concern'd, it may be
ufeful to Criticks and Hiftorians in General. To their Opinion I
rhoft humbly fubmit, and fhall contentedly acquiefce in their Cen-
fure. I have without fparing Expence or Pains, faithfully en-
deavour'd the Laying a Proper Foundation of the Work 1 wasin-
trufted with : If I have miftaken/twas not without confulting fome
Friends whom I prefum'd to be Competent Judges from a General
Approbation of Books they themfelves had publifh'd. Their
Opinion was, fuch a Work might prove Inftrumental, towards the
leading us to a Clearer Notion than we have had hitherto of the
moll Ancient Languages, and Confequently of the Origin of the
Firft Colonies of thefe Kingdoms. They alfo added it would pro-
bably in Conjunction with the Late Exquifite Performance of
D' Htchs, encourage the Antiquaries throughout Britain and Ire-
land to a Narrower Infpeftion into our oldeft Languages, In-
fcriptions and Manufcripts, than we have commonly thought ufe-
ful. If upon Perufal, fome others Ihould be of the fame Judge-
ment, 'twill be I hope fome Compenfation for the Time. But
whatever Fate attends it, I have a Great while long'd for fo Publick
an Occafion of exprefling my due Senfe of Your Generolity, and
manifefting Your Laudable Aim at the promoting of Learning in
General, however Unfuccefsful You may have been in conferring
Your Favours on
Honour'd Sir,
Your Grateful and
molt Obedient Servant,
Edward Lhuyd.