Miscellaneous Poems

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS,

B Y

JOHN BYR O M, M. A. F. R. S,

SOMETIME

Fellow of TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,

And Inventor of

The Univerfal ENGLISH SHORT-HAND,

In TWO VOLUME S.

MANCHESTER:

Printed by J. HARRO P.

M DCC LXXIII.

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PRE FAC E.

THE Publication of the following Sheets is in Compliance with the Requeft of many of Mr. Byrom's Friends, who were much pleased with some of his poetical Compofitions, which had cafually circulated in his Life-time. Much might here be faid of the Author's learned, and poetical Talents; but it does not seem to be the Bufinefs of an Editor to endeavour to anticipate the Reader's Judgment-By it's own intrinfic Worth, and the candid Opinion of the Public, the following Work is left to stand, or fall.

A Deference due to the Public may however make it neceffary to affure them, that the Poems here presented are the genuine Production of Mr. Byrom. They are carefully transcribed from kis awn Manufcripts; but as many of them were written rather for private, than for public Perufal, it is hoped that all favourable Allowance will be made for fmall Inaccuracies.

The Reader may be furprized perhaps to find in these Volumes fo many learned, and critical Questions difcuffed in Verfe-This is indeed a Singularity almoft peculiar to our Author: but he had fo accustomed himself to the Language of Poetry, that he always found it the eafieft Way of expreffing his Sentiments upon all Occations. He himself ufed to give this Reason to his Friends for treating fuch Subjects in fo uncommon a Method;

and

and it is prefumed, that, if they are not found deficient
in other Refpects, the Novelty of the Manner will be
rather a Recommendation than otherwife.

At a Time when Party-Disputes are fo happily fubfid-
ed, it may seem to want an Apology, that, in the follow-
ing Collection, fome few Pieces are inferted, which appear
to be tinctured with a Party-Spirit-A small Attention
however will convince the warmeft Partizan, that what
Mr. Byrom has written of this Caft was intended to foften
the Afperity, and prevent the Mifchiefs of an over-
heated Zeal. Since this was the Author's chief Motive
for writing, it is imagined no other Apology will be ne-
ceffary for the Publication of fuch Pieces.

The great Truths of Christianity had made, from his
earliest Years,a: deep Impreffion upon the Author's
Mind; and as it was his Manner to commit his Senti-
ments, of every kind, Verfe, fo he had a peculiar
Pleasure in employing his Pen upon ferious Subjects--
To the Purposes of Inftruction, and the Interests of Vir-
tue, all his Abilities were ever made fubfervient.
This
will appear, more particularly, from the fecond Volume
of the following Sheets, in which it was thought proper
to felect fuch Pieces as treat on Subjects of a deeper, and
more important Nature-The Reader, it is not doubt-
ed, will be pleased to find that the Author's natural Ta-
lent for Wit, and Humour, has fo often given place to
Something more folid and fubftantial.

CONTENTS

Of the FIRST VOLUME.

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