[ iv ] 



hold of for obtaining the public favour, is the 

 fmcerity of his intentions, he cannot but feel an 

 anxious difquietude of mind, at the thoughts 

 of making his appearance before that public 

 which he is convinced hath formed expectations 

 altogether difproportioned to his deferts. He 

 would fain wifh to remove, if poffible, the dif- 

 agreeable effefts of that unjuft prepofleflion ; but 

 how to do it, he knows not. ImprelTed with 

 thefe ideas, he offers this his firft number to the 

 public, with doubt and hefitation. Thefe very 

 thoughts have depreffed his fpirits to fuch a de- 

 gree, as to render his mind, feeble at the bed, 

 incapable on this occafion of even its ordinary 

 exertions. Embarrafled too, with a number of 

 cares refpecluig the executive department of a 

 new undertaking, thefe perplexities have been 

 flill farther augmented on this occafion, in an 

 extraordinary degree, fo as to divert him in a 

 great raeafure, at the prefent time, from being 

 able to attend, as he ought to do, to the more 

 congenial tafi^, to him, of fupervifmg the literary 

 department. In thefe circumftances, he feels 

 himfelf under the neccflity of fupphcating the 

 indulgence of his readers for the defects and im- 

 perfeftions of this number. Should the public 

 be difpofed to receive this feeble effort with in-^ 

 dulgence, as fome of thefe enibarralfments muft 



