Concluſion.Having thus gone through what I propoſed to treat of in this Introduction, it may now at laſt be reaſonably expected, that I ſhould ſay ſomething on my own behalf: I am very ſenſible, that this performance is far from being without Faults, in excuſe of which, although I could alledge ſeveral things, yet I will rather rely on the candour of my readers, in hopes, that the difficulties, which inevitably attend the tranſlating of a work of this kind, and which were not a little encreaſed by ſomething very intricate and obſcure in the author’s ſtile, together with the conſideration, that I was to tranſlate into a Language, which is not my mother tongue, will be a means to ſoften the cenſures of ſome, and that the pains, I have been at in many other reſpects, will make amends with more impartial judges, for what imperfections ſtill remain. What I chiefly aimed at, was to expreſs the ſenſe of the author, in as clear and intelligible a manner, as was not inconſiſtent with the nature of the ſubject, and the genius of the Engliſh Language; and being conſcious of my own inſufficiency, I have, for a farther ſatisfaction, deſired ſome of my friends to peruſe my tranſlation, and to correct what they found very much amiſs therein. As to the Cuts, but very few were left finiſhed by the Author: All the reſt I have drawn with my own hand, either from his unfiniſhed originals, or from the prints and drawings of the Japaneſe, in the Collection of Sir Hans Sloane, and if they ſhould appear to ſome to fall ſhort in point of elegance, though even as to that I have taken all poſſible care, I have the ſatisfaction at leaſt, that I can vouch for the truth and accuracy of them, and their conformity with the originals. But there is one thing, which I cannot forbear taking notice of, before I conclude, and that is, that the Author hath repeated, in ſome places, what he had already mentioned in others: I intended at firſt to leave out all theſe repetitions, but upon ſecond thoughts, and for ſome other reaſons, I reſolved to give the whole Hiſtory, as it had been delivered to me: the rather, as the ſaid repetitions, which the Reader is deſired candidly to excuſe, are in the end not altogether uſeleſs, both as they ſerve to refreſh the memory, and to give, in ſome places, a more ample explanation of ſuch things as were but occaſionally touched upon in others.
- May 1. 1727.
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