PREFACE

TO THE

READER.

Courteous, candid, and gentle Reader, THOSE are epithets that must

found very strange in modern ears, but the writer of the following pages cannot by any means do without them; and as the makes a point of rejecting nothing that may answer her purpose, even though it should have been the fashion of the fixteenth century, it is therefore

hoped

hoped that the introduction of so obsolete an addrefs will give offence to no one, when the neceffity fhall appear that all her readers fhould be courteous, candid, and gentle. Writers who for the first time prefent their obfervations to the public eye, must be fomething more than vain if they did not advance with dubious step. The writer, at this moment, does really offer her thoughts with fear and trembling. If any of the gentlemen

reviewers fhould think her book worth a moment's attention, the earnestly entreats the exercise of all their candour, courtefy, and gentleness; begs that they will pafs over all grammatical errors, every fault in ftile, and crudity of judgement: but if their duty to the public.demands