THE Novelists Magazine, VOLX. (CONTAINING) The First, Second,Third, and Fourth, Sir Charles Grandifon. LONDON.' Printed for Harrifon and Co N°18 Paternofter Row. 1783. THE HISTORY OF SIR CHARLES GRANDISON. IN A SERIES OF LETTERS. BY MR. SAMUEL RICHARDSON. IN SEVEN VOLUMES. LONDON: Printed for HARRISON and Co. No. 18, Paternofter Row. T PREFACE. HE Editor of the following Letters takes leave to obferve, that he has now, in this publication, compleated the plan that was the object of his wifhes, rather than of his hopes, to accomplish. The first collection which he publifhed, intituled 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 it's truly contempti ble 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 he 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 a 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 moft important article of their lives; and to children again ft hoping too far from the fairest affurances of a man void of principle. The heroine, however, as a truly Chriflian 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 boafted fuccefs of his vile machinations: but ftill (buoyed up with felf-conceit and vain prefumption) he goes 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 first 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 publick view the character and actions of a man of TRUE HONOUR. He has been enabled to obey thefe his friends, and to compleat his first defign: and now, therefore, prefents to the publick, in Sir |