"Gentle Reader, "Take this Book as a token of sincere esteem from one whom you may never have known, but who, while invisible as your guardian angel, like him has long been employed in secret offices of kindness on your behalf. Believe me, all the time, labour, study, watching, and, if you will allow it, all the talent expended on its composition, were fervently devoted to your service. Though you may deem some of these pages too trifling, others too grave, a few too florid, and many too dull, yet in all moods and vagaries of mind, I have had the twofold object in view,-to amuse if I could, and benefit if I might, the good-natured reader. When I have succeeded in one of these, I cannot have miscarried altogether in the other; for in the wildest humours, amidst reveries of egotism, sallies of fancy, and mazes of description, I have never lost sight of some moral aim, though I have not always placed it ostentatiously before your eye: at the same time, in my most portentous lucubrations, I have endeavoured to embellish, though I may have failed to illustrate those solemn and eternal verities, which I will not say I have ventured to introduce occasionally, but which, repulsive as they may be to some whom I would fain conciliate, I have not dared to exclude altogether from a work principally intended for intellectual dissipation in leisure hours. "I have done my part to please you; and if you do half as much to be pleased, neither of us will have reason to complain. Readers in general are little aware how much of the entertainment of such works depends upon themselves. If you, my gentle friend, are one of these, make the experiment with my little book: do your best to be delighted with it; and if there be stars in heaven, or flowers on earth, you shall not lose your labour.'" So saying, my author dismissed me. I have come from his hands to place myself in yours, where I lie at your mercy. Reader.-I will do you justice. |