Historical deduction of seats, from the stool to the Sofa-A School-boy's ramble.-A walk in the country. The scene described-Rural sounds as well as sights delightful.—Another walk.—Mistake concerning the charms of solitude corrected.- Colonnades commended.-Alcove, and the view from it.— The wilderness.-The grove.-The thresher.-The necessity and the benefits of exercise.—The works of nature superior to, and in some instances inimitable by, art.-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure.-Change of scene sometimes expedient.-A common described, and the character of crazy Kate introduced.-Gipsies. -- The blessings of civilized life.-That state most favourable to virtue.-The South Sea islanders compassionated, but chiefly Omai.-His present state of mind supposed. Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities. Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but censured.Fete champetre. The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of dissipation and effeminacy upon our public measures. PREFACE TO THE FIRST VOLUME. WHEN an Author, by appearing in print, requests an audience of the Public, and is upon the point of fpeaking for himself, whoever prefumes to ftep before him. with a preface, and to fay, "Nay, but hear me firft," fhould have fomething worthy of attention to offer, or he will be juftly deemed officious and impertinent. The judicious reader has probably, upon other occafions, been beforehand with me in this reflection: and I am not very willing it fhould now be applied to me, A VOL. I. however I may seem to expofe myself to the danger of it. But the thought of having my own name perpetuated in connexion with the name in the title page, is fo pleafing and flattering to the feelings of my heart, that I am content to risk something for the gratification. This Preface is not defigned to com mend the Poems, to which it is prefixed. My teftimony would be infufficient for thofe, who are not qualified to judge properly for themselves, and unneceffary to thofe, who are. Befides the reasons, which render it improper and unfeemly for a man to celebrate his own performances, or those of his nearest relatives, will have fome influence in fuppreffing much of what he might otherwise with to say in favour of a friend, when that friend is indeed an alter idem, and ex cites almoft the fame emotions of fen. fibility and affection, as he feels for himfelf. It is very probable these Poems may come into the hands of fome perfons, in whom the fight of the author's name will awaken a recollection of incidents and fcenes, which through length of time they had almoft forgotten. They will be reminded of one, who was once the companion of their chofen hours, and who fet out with them in early life in the paths, which lead to literary honours, to influence, and affluence, with equal profpects of fuccefs. But he was fuddenly and powerfully withdrawn from those pursuits, and he left them without regret; yet not till he had fufficient opportunity of counting the cost, and of knowing the value of what he gave up. |