The style of Grotius is concise, and in some degree technical, as the nature of the work requires: and this character it has not been attempted to avoid in the trans lation, except so far as to make it intelligible to ordinary Readers. The Preface to the Edition, and the Latin Index to the Work, have been annexed to the translation, as likely to be useful to the, English Reader. Even where they contain references to passages which do not appear in this volume, they will convey information respecting the origi nal work.