P R E F A C E.
THE Publication of the following Poems, if such they may be called,
proceeds not from motives of ostentation in the Author nor a desire of
discovering tothe world his Poetical abilities; neither does he find any
violent inclination to wear the laurels of Fame. He is very sensible
(though perhaps not so much as he ought to have been) that they are but
too much destitute both of the spirit and dress of Poetry, sufficient
to justify their appearance in Public; and is well aware, that a great
part of mankind may, perhaps both treat himself and his Publication with
ridicule and contempt: but as he never had the vanity to think he was
capable of instructing mankind, he will be satisfied if he can here furnish
them with something that may contribute to their amusement; and, as there is
nothing more common than for one part of the world to laugh at the other, he
cannot think he has any just reason to be offended, though he should be
laughed at in his turn, as well as others who may find themselves his betters.
IN consequence of misfortunes and disappointments, he was, some years
ago, torn from his ordinary way of life, and shut up in Retirement, which he
found at first painful and disagreeable. Imagining however that he had a
kind of turn for Rhyming, in order to support his solitude, he set himself
to compose the following Pieces, without the least view or design of
Publishing them. A few Friends, however, having accidentally seen them,
insisted on him for their Publication, and have at last prevailed.
THE Author, alas! both from his circumstances and manner of life, being
constantly engaged in labour or business, was denied the share of Education
which is necessary to form the Gentleman and the Poet; and what is more
against him still, he has never had leisure to read; so that, what he has
wrote, is merely the effect of his own observations on nature, men, and
things, and these huddled together without any order or method. But as he
has been careful not to write any thing that might give just cause of
offence to any one, or trespass upon the rules of decency or morality, the
greatest loss that can possibly be sustained by the Book, is only the loss
of it's price. Upon the whole he throws himself upon the humanity and
indulgence of the Public.
HE returns his most sincere thanks to his Subscribers, especially to
those who have befriended him by procuring a number of Subscriptions; and,
if the perusing of the following Trifles should, for a while, beguile the
languid hour, or dispel the load of care from the hearts of any of them,
who, like the Author, have been unfortunate, his end will in a great measure
be gained, and he will have the satisfaction to think that he has not
altogether laboured in vain.