In the preface to the former edition of this Letter a fourth was mentioned as being in possession of Mr. Burke’s friends.  It was in fact announced by the author himself, in the conclusion of the second, which it was then designed to follow.  He intended, he said, to proceed next on the question of the facilities possessed by the French Republic, from the internal state of other nations, and particularly of this, for obtaining her ends,—­and as his notions were controverted, to take notice of what, in that way, had been recommended to him.  The vehicle which he had chosen for this part of his plan was an answer to a pamphlet which was supposed to come from high authority, and was circulated by ministers with great industry, at the time of its appearance, in October, 1795, immediately previous to that session of Parliament when his Majesty for the first time declared that the appearance of any disposition in the enemy to negotiate for general peace should not fail to be met with an earnest desire to give it the fullest and speediest effect.  In truth, the answer, which is full of spirit and vivacity, was written the latter end of the same year, but was laid aside when the question assumed a more serious aspect, from the commencement of an actual negotiation, which gave rise to the series of printed letters.  Afterwards, he began to rewrite it, with a view of accommodating it to his new purpose.  The greater part, however, still remained in its original state; and several heroes of the Revolution, who are there celebrated, having in the interval passed off the public stage, a greater liberty of insertion and alteration than his friends on consideration have thought allowable would be necessary to adapt it to that place in the series for which it was ultimately designed by the author.  This piece, therefore, addressed, as the title originally stood, to his noble friend, Earl Fitzwilliam, will be given the first in the supplemental volumes which will be hereafter added to complete this edition of the author’s works.

The tracts, most of them in manuscript, which have been already selected as fit for this purpose, will probably furnish four or five volumes more, to be printed uniformly with this edition.  The principal piece is an Essay on the History of England, from the earliest period to the conclusion of the reign of King John.  It is written with much depth of antiquarian research, directed by the mind of an intelligent statesman.  This alone, as far as can be conjectured, will form more than one volume.  Another entire volume also, at least, will be filled with his letters to public men on public affairs, especially those of France.  This supplement will be sent to the press without delay.