broad, where no prepoffeffion in his favour could poffibly take place, have expreffed the high fense which they entertained of the merit of his works. Diderot, one of the present most celebrated French authors, speaking of the means employed to move the paffions, in the 96th page of his effay on dramatic poetry, mentions Richardfon particularly as a perfect mafter of that art: " How ftrong," fays he," how fenfible, how pathetic are his defcriptions! his perfonages though filent, are alive. before me; and of those who speak, the actions are still more affecting than the words." The famous Rouffeau of Geneva, fpeaking, in his letter to Monfieur d'Alembert, of Mr Richardfon's novels, afferts, "that nothing was ever written equal, or even approaching them, in any lan'guage." We could almoft fill a volume with commendations of this work from different authors, but the great names above-mentioned are fully fufficient, were any recommendation wanting to entitle it to the public favour. PREFAC E. HE editor of the following letters takes publication, completed the plan, that was the object of his wifhes, rather than of his hopes, to accomplish. The first collection which he published, intitled PAMELA, exhibited the beauty and fuperiority of virtue in an innocent and unpolifhed mind, with the reward which often, even in this life, a protecting providence beftows on goodnefs. A young woman of low degree, relating to her honeft parents the fevere trials fhe met with from a master who ought to have been the protector, not the affailer, of her honour, fhews the character of a Libertine in its truly contemptible light. This Libertine, however, from the foundation of good principles laid in his early years by an excellent mother, by his paffion for a virtuous young woman, and by her amiable example, and unwearied patience, when fhe became his wife, is, after a length of time, perfectly reclaimed. The fecond collection, publifhed under the title of CLARISSA, difplayed a more melancholy fcene. A young lady of higher fortune, and born to happier hopes, is feen involved in fuch variety of deep diftreffes, as lead her to an untimely death; affording a warning to parents against forcing the inclinations of their children in the most important article of their lives; and to children againft hoping too far from the fairest affurances of a man void of principle. The heroine, however, as a truly Chriftian heroine, proves fuperior to her trials; and her heart, always excellent, refined and exalted by every one of them, rejoices in the approach of a happy eternity. Her cruel deftroyer appears wretched and difappointed, even in the boasted fuccefs of his vile machinations: But ftill (buoyed up with felf-conceit and vain prefumption) he gces on, after every fhort fit of imperfect, yet terrifying conviction, hardening himself more and more; till, unreclaimed by the most affecting warnings, and repeated admonitions, he perishes miferably in the bloom of life, and finks into the grave oppreffed with guilt, remorfe, and horror. His letters, it is hoped, afford many useful leffons to the gay part of mankind against that mifufe of wit and youth, of rank and fortune, and of every outward accomplishment, which turns them into a curfe to the miferable poffeffor, as well as to all around him. Here the editor apprehended he should be obliged to ftop, by reafon of his precarious ftate of health, and a variety of avocations which claimed his firft attention: But it was infifted on by feveral of his friends, who were well affured he had the materials in his power, that he fhould produce into public view the character and actions of a man of true honour. He has been enabled to obey these his friends, and to complete his first design: And now therefore prefents to the public, in Sir CHARLES GRANDISON, the example of a man acting uniformly well through a variety of trying fcenes, because all his actions are regulated by one one teady principle: A man of religion and virtue; of liveliness and fpirit; accomplished and agreeable; happy in himself, and a bleffing to others. From what has been premifed, it may be fuppofed, that the present collection is not published ultimately, not even principally, any more than the other two, for the fake of entertainment only. A much nobler end is in view. Yet it is hoped the variety of characters and converfations neceffarily introduced into fo large a correfpondence as thefe volumes contain, will enliven as well as inftruct: The rather, as the principal correfpondents are young ladies of polite education, and of lively fpirits. : The nature of familiar letters, written, as it were, to the moment, while the heart is agitated by hopes and fears, on events undecided, must plead an excufe for the bulk of a collection of this kind. Mere facts and characters might be comprised in a much smaller compafs But would they be equally interefiing? It happens fortunately, that an account of the juvenile years of the principal perfon is narratively given in fome of the letters. As many, however, as could be fpared, have been omitted. There is not one episode in the whole, nor, after Sir CHARLES GRANDISON is introduced, one letter inferted but what tends to illuftrate the principal defign. Thofe which precede his introduction will not, it is hoped, be judged unneceffary on the whole, as they tend to make the reader acquainted with perfons, the history of most of whom is closely interwoven with that of Sir Charles. SONNET. SONNE T. WEET moralift, whofe generous labours tend, SWEET With ceafelefs diligence, to guide the mind, In the wild maze of error wandering blind, To virtue, truth, and honour, glorious end. Of glorious toils? Vainly would I commend, And juftly ftiles you of mankind the friend; Pleafure with profit artful while you blend, Numbers who ne'er to graver lore attend, Caught by the charm, grow virtuous as they read; And lives reform'd fhall give your genuine praife. |