INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Jl 



betrayed; to the evident deftruclion of num- 

 bers that have died in the moft excruciating 

 agonies, finking unJer the load of accumu- 

 lated miferv and perfecution, devoted victims 

 to a fyftem replete with the moft unparalleled 

 cruelty that the heart could diclate, or the 

 hand direct." — " And in pity to a fpecies, &c. 

 let us hope that this damnable doctrine may 

 be univerfally exploded, and buried in eternal 

 oblivion." 



I know not how the generality of my readers 

 may feel, or how they may relifh and digeft 

 thefe choice morciaux ; but fuch as have fome 

 knowledge of the fubjecl, or whofe minds may 

 chance to be in unifon with mine, will believe 

 me, when I aflure them, that the firft tafte of 

 this cream of the Stable Directory, inftantly 

 conjured up into the glafs of my imagination* 

 a certain old pi&urefque ftanza, which moft of 

 us (Taving your prefence moft reverend critics) 

 have, I dare fay, repeated at fchool, beginning, 



There was a man ■, <kc. tie- 



To be ferious, nothing can be more illiberal, 

 uncandid, and unjuft, than Mr. Taplin's me- 

 thod of quoting Bartlet, in this cafe. Gibfon 

 firft, and Bartlet after him, recommend mild 

 and gentle remedies for the poll-evil, in its 

 early ftages, and while it may be luppofed 

 poflible to fubdue it by fuch treatment; the 



f 4 fcalding 



