8 OBSERVATIONS. 



Hand in compels me to proceed to a thorough 

 explanation, feeling myfelf pledged by a public 

 promife not only to invejligate^ make clear ^ 

 and endeavour to expkdey the cruelties of an- 

 cient praftice, but to point out the equal dan- 

 ger of modern compojitton even in its infancy i 

 more particularly when uftiered Into the 

 world by fuch high founding authority as 

 may give it temporary weight with unthinkr 

 ing injudicious readers, or experimental ad^ 

 ventuierSo 



Previous to farther animadverfion upon the 

 jclaborate periodical work In queulon, I (hali^ 

 without the leaft intentional gratification of my 

 own vanity, offer to the prcfent reader one 

 congratulatory fadl beyond the power of 

 .fophijlry to confute, or criticijm to condemn. 

 Amidfl the paltry productions that have been 

 obtruded upon the public under various titles 

 (thofe fervile imitations or wretched mutila- 

 tions of what have gone before) it is a mofl 

 flattering circumftance to the author, and no in- 

 different confolation to the publifher, that this 

 iioork will ever fupport itfelf upon the bafis of 

 its own origin. The great fuccefs and rapid 

 circulation of the former editions have totally 

 ? *' exculpated 



