The manuscripts published here are printed in full with routine openings and terminations, and with endorsements and annotations, usually, though not invariably, in the hand of the recipients of the letters. (In the letters received by Thomas Rant, however, many of the marginal annotations which he made on them are purely routine, and have not, therefore, been reproduced in the text of this volume.) The original spellings have been retained, except that modern usage is employed for u and v, and for i and j.Footnote ¹ Punctuation and capitalization have also been modernized. Most abbreviations have been expanded through the use of italics and square brackets. Interlineations are indicated by the use of brackets <thus>. Deletions (where the deleted word is still legible) are indicated thus. Other deletions and obliterations are noted in square brackets. Cross-references to other letters printed here are made by citing the number of the letter in italic type: for example, Letter 23. Underlining of words and passages of text in these letters has been preserved.

The letters are printed in chronological sequence. In the absence of other evidence, I have assumed that letters which were written on the Continent were dated according to the New Style and those written in England were dated Old Style. (With Old Style dates, I take the year to begin on 1 January and not 25 March.)