PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

THE following work is intended to supply, in some measure, what appears to be a desideratum to the English reader, viz.—a compendious account of the Councils of the Church. This I had originally proposed to do by a translation of a small French work, published anonymously, at Paris, in 1773, in one volume, entitled, “Dictionnaire Portatif des Conciles,” but when the task had been commenced, so many alterations and additions appeared to be needed, that I resolved so far to abandon my first design as to make the French work merely the groundwork of a more extended volume on the same plan. Thus, although the work alluded to has furnished no small part of the present book, very considerable alterations have been made in it, and not only has much fresh matter been added relating to the councils contained in that work, but an account has also been given of many others which it passes over in silence, especially those which, although not recognised by the Church of Rome, are not the less regarded by other branches of the Church.

The materials with which I have had to work were unhappily scanty, and some apology may seem to be due for attempting a work of this nature, while debarred, as in this place I have been, from many of those authorities which it would have been desirable to have consulted; but the reader will bear in mind that the present book pretends only to be of an elementary character, and reference has, in almost every case, been given to the larger works of Labbe and Wilkins; I may also add, that I believe the work, as far as it goes, will be found to be accurate; the account of every council having been verified either by myself, whilst in England, or by my friend, the Rev. William Pridden, to whom my sincere thanks are due for this and other valuable assistance: and also to the Rev. J. M. Neale, who kindly permitted me the use of the MS. of his history of the Oriental Church.

Nor would I omit to mention my obligation to the Reverend the Canon Ant. J. F. Pestana, rector of the seminary of Funchal, for his courtesy in allowing me, at all times, free access to the valuable library attached to that Institution, and to the Rev. E. M. Johnson, rector of Brooklyn, New York, for some useful documents relating to the convocations of the Church, in the United States of America.

MADEIRA, 1845.