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PRINTED FOR HURST, ROBINSON & CO.

5, WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL.

1826.

2MAR1948

KIBRARY

TO MY READERS.

I DID not-like many amiable authors, write these pages purely from the benevolent motive of amusing your leisure hours; for I wrote them to amuse my own. Nor do I publish them, like most diffident writers, "with sincere reluctance, and only at the reiterated and urgent request of partial friends"-I publish them entirely to please myself, and for the purpose of enjoying the satisfaction of seeing them in print ;-a delight, though unconfessed, so dear to the secret soul of an author!

vi

"An author! But what author?"-methinks I hear you inquire; for as the first question always asked about a man, is-"Who is he?" not "What is he?" so the first inquiry about a book is, not-"What are its merits?" but "Who is the author?"

After all, however, what can it signify to you, my dear readers, who I am? I have a name, certainly— but what has my name to do with

my

A rose,

book?"

By any other name would smell as sweet.

Besides,

Authors you know of greatest fame,
Through modesty suppress their name;
And would you wish me to reveal,

What these superior wits conceal ?

The fact is, my noble, gentle, and simple readers, that

I don't like to tell you my name, because I am afraid you won't like my book.

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