unentertaining volumes I have been obliged to peruse: I have had more than one language to learn: My materials were widely scattered, ill digested, and often little known: It was not easy to collect them, or to accommodate them to my purpose. These are all circumstances, ill calculated, it must be owned, to give me much assurance. But I have likewise met with very considerable assistances; several learned men have treated particular points of the Antiquities of the north, with that deep erudition which characterises the studies of the last age. I cannot mention, without acknowledgment and praise, Bartholinus, Wormius, Stephanius, Arngrim Jonas, Torfæus, &c. I have also consulted, with advantage, two learned strangers, Mess. Pelloutier and Dalin. The first, in his History of the Celtes, has thrown a great deal of light upon the religion of the first inhabitants of Europe. The second has given a new History of Sweden, which discovers extensive reading and genius. In three or four chapters, where the Author treats of the religion, the laws and manners of the ancient Swedes, we find these subjects discussed with unusual perspicuity and elegance.
There are people of that happy genius, that they need only wish in order to succeed, and have every resource within themselves. As for me, I dare hardly reckon among my advantages, the strong motives and inducements I have had to my undertaking. I dare not tell strangers, that I have had the happiness of being encouraged by more than one Mæcenas, and by a Prince, alike knowing, and zealous in the advancement of knowledge. They would judge of me, unquestionably, according to what such numerous and great encouragements ought to have produced, when, perhaps, I hardly find myself capable of discharging the duties which lie upon me in common with all Historians.
Is it necessary that I should take notice, before I conclude, that I am about to delineate a nation in its infancy, and that the greatest part of the other
