Gordons of Nethermuir

39
"The Annals of Europe" is a very interest-
ing- compilation which was the ancestor of
"The Annual Register," and of a host of
modern annuals like "Whitaker's Almanack"
and "Hazell's Annual." It was first issued
in 1740 with the following- title : —
"The Annals of Europe for the year 1730:
being a methodical and full account of all
the remarkable occurrences which happened
within that year, either at home or abroad:
with copies or extracts of the most important
Treaties and other public papers, and an
abstract of the most remarkable pamphlets
published within that period. To be con-
tinued and from thenceforth published annu-
ally as soon as possible after the expiration
of the preceding year." London: printed
for George Hawkins at Milton's Head, be-
tween the two Temple Gates, Fleet Street:
2 vols., Xvo. : vol. i. (1740), pp. xxvi. 4- 453:
vol. ii. (1741), pp. xviii. + 514.
It must have proved a success, for this
edition was followed by editions in the
following years : —
For 1740: published 1742: pp. xii. + 580.
For 1741 : published 1742: pp. xii! + 514.
For 1742: published 1745: pp. xvi. + 556.
For 1743: published 1745: pp. xvi. + 588.
One is much struck by the independent
attitude of the (anonymous) editor. In the
preface to the 173c) edition he says: —
"I think I cannot do a greater service to
my country, or indeed to mankind, than to
collect and publish yearly, in an historical
method, such accounts of all the important
transactions of the present age as I shall
be able to procure. For, though I cannot
take all the freedom that, I hope, will be
taken by future historians, with the vicious
actions or politicks of the present age, yet
I may, perhaps, now and then fall upon some
method of giving such hints as may raise
the curiosity of the publick and make them
enquire particularly into what is so hinted