FOR T. UNDERWOOD, AND JOHN ANDERSON, LONDON; 52, PRINCES STREET, EDINBURGH. TO THE READER. GENTLE READER, FROM time immemorial, it has been customary with those distinguished personages, commonly ycleped Authors, who, from whatever motive, wish to communicate a portion of their wisdom to others, to introduce themselves to the Public, by what has been variously denominated a Proem, a Preface, an Epistle Dedicatory, or, still more in a business-like style, an Advertisement. It has been thought by many, indeed, that this introductory matter is of little service to the work itself, with which it frequently has no very close connection. Others have sarcastically hinted, that it is of no greater utility than to tell the world, what every one |