FIRST TO THE EDITION. TH HE works of Dr. Johnfon have been, occafionally, fo much the object of my reading, for their fancy, judgment, and above all, the interefting and moral obfervations which they contain upon life and manners, that in order to impress thofe obfervations the better on my mind, I availed myfelf of fome leifure months last fummer, to felect them under proper heads, and arrange them in alphabetical order. As I proceeded in this work, I found myself bringing out, into one view, a body of maxims and obfervations, which I imagined would be more than ufeful to myself; hence I thought it a duty incumbent on me to publish them. Such is the origin of the prefent publication, a publication, that as I feel it has benefitted myself in the compiling, so I trust it will others in the perufal, and happy fhall I be, if, by any œconomy of mine in the works of fuch a writer, I can contribute to make them more generally known, or remembered, as by it I am fure I fhall perform an essential service to mankind. In respect to the use of selection, (particularly as I have here applied it) Dr. Johnson makes the best apology for me to the public, in his Idler, vol. ii. p. 185, and which, I hope, he will accept himself as an additional motive for this undertaking. "Writers of extenfive comprehenfion, (fays he) have incidental remarks upon topics very remote from the principal fubject, which are often more valuable than formal treatises, and which yet are not known, because they are not promised in the title. He that collects thofe under proper beads, is very laudably employed, for tho' he exerts no great abilities in the work, he facilitates the progress of others, and by making that easy of attainment, which is already written, may give fome a 3 fome mind, more vigorous, or more adventurous than his own, leifure for new thoughts, and original defigns." How far this selection is made with judgment, I muft, however, truft to the decifion of the public, well knowing that if it is negligently, or ignorantly performed, any thing I can fay, will not excufe me; if on the contrary, I have done justice to my design, my telling them fo will not accelerate their approbation. One thing I can affure them of, that I have made my extracts as accurately and judiciously as I could- and that whatever may be the fate of the book, I have been already repaid for my labours, by the fatisfaction they have afforded me.. · November 4th, 1781. THE EDITOR. CON |