and united to every virtue that can command esteem, or captivate affection. Had the work not been interrupted by fome inevitable accidents, it might perhaps have been more worthy of your protection; but, as it is, it affords Us this pleasing opportunity of declaring ourselves, with the most perfect regard, MADAM, your moft obedient, humble fervants, The AUTHORS. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. HE following papers having met with general applaufe on their appearance in the HIBERNIAN CHRONICLE, I have been encouraged to fend them into the world in a collected, and more permanent form. As I have no fhare in them, but merely that of an Editor, I may be allowed to fay that, in the opinion of perfons of the most critical tafte, they have happily touched the true manner of an effay, fo often and unfuccefsfully attempted. The fentiments are original; the moral steals pleasingly on the reader; the humour is eafy, clofe, and natural; the raillery of falfe politenefs and modish foibles is fupported with a fpirited delicacy, and a variety of fancy, equal to any thing of the fame kind in the Spectators; and the ftile, through the whole, has perhaps more accuracy, harmony, and neatnefs than is generally to be met with, even in those celebrated compofitions. The reader will please to confider them as only, the sketch, or outline, of a more extenfive plan, formed by fome ingenious perfons among ourselves; interrupted by the death of one, (ever to be regretted by all who knew him!) and the indifpofition and unforeseen avocations of others-Soon perhaps to be resumed. Of Of the authors I have leave to fay but little. The papers marked W. F, L, Y, N, were written by one Gentleman; thofe marked Z. M. O. Q. with the paper on Card playing, and the letter from P. Q, by another. No. 34, 42, and 46, are effufions of fancy for which I am indebted to a very amiable Lady, as I am to her fair friend for the communication of the poetical favour, No. 54. To another worthy and ingenious Lady I owe the letter in No. 39; and to a fourth, the valuable epiftle from Thaleftris, fufficient to make every reader regret that even exemplary attention to an extenfive circle of domeftic duties fhould prevent the more frequent ufe of fo animated and elegant a pen. an For No. 53 and 58, two papers of uncommon merit, I have reafon to think I am obliged to a Lady in the city of Limerick. No. 41 had been published not long fince in a Dublin Magazine, but, in the absence of the Author, I took the liberty of inferting it in my paper. Some few effays, being on fubjects of a local and temporary nature, though extremely well written, I have been induced to omit, for which I hope the much esteemed writers will excufe me. I have given a Tranflation of the Mottces for the fatisfaction of the English reader; but, that it may not offend a claffical tafte, I have detached it from the original, which must always have a peculiar beauty, incapable of a verfion without being injured. |