it blazes in its full vigour; but yet it is well known that, by its wavering, as if ftruggling against its own diffolution, it fometimes darts a ray as bright as ever. In like manner, a ftrong and lively genius will, in its laft ftruggles, fometimes mount aloft, and throw forth the moft ftriking marks of its original luftre:

WHEREVER thefe are to be found, do you, the genuine patrons of extraordinary capacities, be as liberal in your applaufes of him who is now no more, as you were of him whilst he was yet amongst you. And, on the other hand, if in this little work there fhould appear any traces of a weaken'd and decay'd life, let your own imaginations place before your eyes a true picture, in that of a hand trembling in almost its latest hour, of a body emaciated with pains, yet ftruggling for your entertainment; and let this affecting picture open each tender heart, and call forth a melting tear, to blot out whatever failings may be found in a work begun in pain, and

finished

finished almoft at the fame period with life.

It was thought proper, by the friends of the deceafed, that this little piece should come into your hands as it came from the hands of the author; it being judged that you would be better pleafed to have an opportunity of observing the faintest traces of a genius you have long admired, than have it patch'd by a different hand; by which means the marks of its true author might have been effac'd.

THAT the fuccefs of this laft written, tho' first published volume, of the author's pofthumous pieces, may be attended with some convenience to those innocents he hath left behind, will, not doubt, be a motive to encourage its circulation through the kingdom, which will engage every future genius to exert itself for your pleasure.

THE principles and fpirit which breathe in every line of the small frag

men

ment begun in anfwer to Lord BolingBroke will unquestionably be a fufficient apology for its publication, altho' vital ftrength was wanting to finish a work fo happily begun and fo well defigned.

HERE would not, perhaps, be a more pleasant, or profitable ftudy, among thofe which have their principal

end in amufement, than that of travels or voyages, if they were writ, as they might be, and ought to be, with a joint view to the entertainment and information of mankind. If the converfation of travellers be fo eagerly fought after as it is, we may believe their books will be ftill more agreeable company, as they will,

B

will, in general, be more inftructive and more entertaining.

BUT when I fay the converfation of travellers is ufually fo welcome, I must be understood to mean that only of such as have had good fenfe enough to apply their peregrinations to a proper ufe, fo as to acquire from them a real and valuable knowledge of men and things; both which are best known by comparifon. If the customs and manners of men were every where the fame, there would be no office fo dull as that of a traveller for the difference of hills, valleys, rivers; in fhort, the various views in which we may fee the face of the earth, would scarce afford him a pleafure worthy of his labour; and furely it would give him very little opportunity of communicating any kind of entertainment or improvement to others.

To make a traveller an agreeable companion to a man of fenfe, it is neceffary, not only that he fhould have feen much, but that he should have overlooked much of what he hath feen. Nature is not,