PREFACE.

J

It is so usual to write Prefaces, that a work issuing from the press in the nineteenth century without one, would appear as much wanting in something essential, as a modern song without a prelude: the Author is fond of harmonics, and to avoid the charge of discordance has resolved in this respect at least, to walk in the steps of his predecessors. He is thoroughly sensible of the manifold imperfections of this his first essay, and earnestly implores a lenient judgment at the bar of a liberal and enlightened Public. If the man of savage life be deemed prematurely well informed, he freely confesses him a mere vehicle, and trusts that, like Operatic Dialogue, he will be accepted as such.

Above all things, he cautions the reader, of whatever denomination, to beware of suspecting any of the opinions given by Mr. L-, to be those of himself. To assert, and maintain by argumentative reasoning, in the year 1823, that the poor are born for any other purpose than to serve the rich, that misery exists in any shape visible or tangible, in our highly favoured Isle; that every man inherits, at least a physical right to perfect equality in the enjoyment of existence, as an incident inseparable from his being; and that instinctively he loves pleasure rather than pain; are positions too self-evidently absurd to be once named among us, except as a joke: they are insults to common sense, and should be put away as foolish talking. He is aware some well-disposed friends, drones in the civil hive, will buz such slanderous imputations; but feels secure in the estimation of his real friends, against such impotent attempts at a sting.

Perhaps the declaration is superfluous, but he makes it nevertheless, that he has scarcely read a page on Ethics, Political Economy, or Metaphysics. The design of the following sheets was suggested by an incident occurring, a comparatively short time back, before which he had never given the subject a thought. If his topics are worn threadbare, so are hundreds more on which commentaries, and dissertations without number,still appear and are read with avidity. Besides, persons writing or speaking on the same points, must of necessity, often stumble over the same ideas; he can therefore hope to be original on but few advancements, and those only of minor importance; especially when it is considered his incidents are those of common life, and are so plain, as to be intelligible by all who possess common powers of reflection.

He has only to add, that should he succeed as an humble auxiliary in re-.

moving one stain from degraded humanity; in causing the slightest extension of liberal sentiment; in awakening one kindred emotion of sympathy; he will not have written in vain. He is proud to acknowledge some of his Theses to be enlargements on hints received in conversation with an esteemed and literary friend.

March 1823.