PREFACE. 
The whole use of a Preface seems to be, either to 
elucidate the nature and origin of the work, or to 
invoke the clemency of the reader. Such obser- 
vations as have been thought necessary for the 
former, will be found in the Introduction; extremely 
solicitous to obtain the latter, I beg leave to relate 
the following anecdote : — 
In one of my late visits to a friend in the country, 
I found their youngest son, a fine boy of eight or 
nine years of age, who usually resides in town for 
his education, just returning from a ramble through 
the neighbouring woods and fields, where he had 
collected a large and very handsome bunch of 
wild flowers, of a great many different colours ; 
and, presenting them to his mother, said, with 
much animation in his countenance, u Look, my 
dear mamma, what beautiful flowers I have found 
growing on our place ! Why, all the woods are 
full of them ! red, orange, blue, and ’most every 
