J79I. AS APOLOGUE. 28i 



1 POSSESS a field of confiderable extent — -The foil is 

 capable of improvement ; and is cultivated with dili- 

 gence, if not with fuccefs. — The fences are of different 

 kinds, and are in pretty good repair. 



I have divided my polfeflion into yarious parcels ; — 

 and to each have allotted trees, fhrubs, grains, plants, 

 apd flowers, correfponding to my ideas of dignity, uti- 

 lity, beauty, and effect. In the principal divifion are 

 the trees of Life, and of the Knowledge of Good and 

 Evil. I have reared the oak, the fir, the myrtle. — 

 Many fruit-trees have I planted, and I promife myfelf 

 much profit from my orchard. I am pleafed particu- 

 larly with the appearance of fruit from the crab, which 

 thrives well. 



Though my trees claim my chief care, I find much 

 employment and amufemcnt, and much advantage too, 

 in my corns, my fhrubbery, and my parterres. Here 

 the vacant hour is agreeably beftov\ed ; — here conver- 

 fation is pleafant ; — here imagination is indulged ; — 

 here devotion is aflifted and cherilhed j — here beauty 

 charms ; — here mufic enchants ; — here odours regale ; 



— here nature fmlles. It is in this quarter, efpecially, 



that the bee may find it's dear and delightful objects i 

 and from them extradl it's wax and food for itfelf, and 

 for the ufe of it's mafter. 



Is not this the fpeech of Vanity, and of the difeafe of 

 Authorfhip ? The writer, forfooth, confiders himfelf 

 a man of fufficient prudence to defend and fecure his 

 powers and his knowledge. He is a theologian, and 

 is chiefly verfant in ferious fubjects. He afpires to fub- 

 limity ; — he fludles utility ; — he wiflies to impart plea- 

 fure. Intellectual and moral improvement and enjoy- 

 ment are carefully promoted. The knotty ftaff and 

 four fruit of fatire he confiders to be ufeful and ne- 

 cefTiry. 



Vol. V. t N n 



