2 
INTRODUCTION, 
out, induced me to trade boldly on my own flock of memory 
and obfervation. The befl way to compute my gain,, is by the 
profit others have received, of which themfelves are the befl 
judges. The poet fays, t£ No vanity is given in vain.” Indeed 
u'hen our vanity is animated with zeal for the welfare of man- 
kind, our very weaknefs becomes our flrength, and receives a 
luflre which neither wit, nor riches, learning nor beauty, can 
give without it. But it was not vanity alone, nor yet the fer- 
vice of mankind ; I was in a mood to fcribble. And I had a 
further reafon for writing, and that not the worfl : I had some- 
thing TO SAY. 
You mufl conflder thefe letters, tho’ more difficult to write 
in a proper manner, compared with the hiflory of florifhing or 
ruined empires, as mufhrooms which grow fpontaneoufly in a 
night, to a fine plantation of oaks. To the one, an ingenious 
cook might have given fome reliffi for an evening’s repafl : but 
the other delights the eye, gives fuel and timber, and affords a 
luxuriant fhelter to the tired traveller, through a longer period 
than the life of man. This alfo feems to be the diflindion, be- 
tween the common herd of writers, who deal in trifling mat- 
ter, , and thofe by whom mankind are really benefited. 
I have garnifhed my diffi with fome beautiful flowers tranf- 
planted in my early days of life thefe are grown up with me, 
without fading in my memory ; I have nothing better to prefent 
you, therefore I defire you will accept of them. I always 
found it moll eafy to remember rules and maxims delivered 
in verfe ; philofophy, harmonized by numbers, was my favorite 
reading y 
