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inftruction of the ftudent, much amusement to the more advanced reader, who infpects the volume merely to pass away his vacant hours. Howel's Letters were, at one time, extremely popular. They have passed through many editions. Their wit, vivacity, and frankness, render them more pleafing than fome more modern and more exact compofitions. Many celebrated Letters, more correct and finished, have in them lefs wit, less fire, lefs fpirit, fewer ideas, and fcantier information,

Lady Rachael Ruffell's Letters are inferted in the Second Book, and must be allowed to conftitute a very useful and ornamental part of it. They have been much admired by persons of taste and fenfibility, both for their thoughts and their diction. Piety and conjugal affection, expressed in language, confidering the time of its compofition, so pure and proper, cannot but afford a fine example to the female afpirants after delicacy, virtue, taste, and whatever is excellent and laudable in the wife, the widow, and the mother. Such patterns in high life cannot fail of becoming beneficial in proportion as they are more known and better abferved.

The very names indeed of those whose Letters furnish this and the remaining Books, are of themselves a fufficient recommendation of them. Locke, Shaftesbury, Pope, Swift, Addison, and a long lift of others, befides thofe enumerated in the title-page, require only to be announced to gain a welcome reception. To dwell on the character and excellences of each, would be to abuse the Reader's patience. Moft of them are of that exalted and established rank, which praise cannot now elevate, nor cenfure degrade.

Since then, the authors, whofe Letters fill this volume, are able to speak fo powerfully for themselves, why should the Reader be detained by a longer Preface from better entertainment? Things intrinfically good will be duly appreciated by a difcerning Public, and require not the oftentatious difplay of a florid encomium. If the Letters here selected were the Letters of obfcure men, a recommendatory introduction might be necessary to their ready admission; but they are the Letters of men, high in rank, high in fame, high in every quality which can excite and reward the attention of a nation, of which most of them have been at once the ornaments and the luminaries. Here indeed, like the fetting fun, they shine with a fofter radiance than in their more studied works; retaining, however, their beauty and magnitude undiminished, though their meridian fervour is abated. Affociated in this Compilation they unite their orbs and form a galaxy: they charm with a mild, diffusive, light, though they no longer dazzle with a noon-day splendour.

But

But it is time to conclude, fince to proceed in recommending thofe who recommend themselves, is but an officious ceremony; yet the Editor, before he withdraws himfelf, begs leave to afk the Reader one question: Would he not think it a pleasure and a happiness, beyond the power of adequate eftimation, to be able to fit down whenever he pleases, and enjoy, at his fire-fide, the converfation of Cicero and Pliny, of the noble Sydneys, of the lively Howel, of Pope, of Gray, of Sterne, of Johnson, and of all the other illustrious perfons, whofe familiar, unstudied Letters, fill the volume before him? That pleasure, and that happiness, however great, he may here actually enjoy in as great perfection as is now poffible, fince Death has filenced their eloquent tongues. By a very flight effort of imagination, he may fuppofe himself, while he revolves these pages, in the midst of the intelligent, cheerful, focial, circle; and when satisfied with the familiar converfation of one, turning to another, equally excellent and entertaining in his way, though on a different subject, and in a diverfified ftyle. Happy intercourse, remote from noise, from care, from ftrife, from envy and happy thofe who have leifure, fenfe, and taste, to relish it!

That a fatisfaction fo pure and fo exalted, may be enjoyed from this attempt, is the fincere with of the Editor, who ventures to exprefs a hope, that if much is done for the Reader's entertainment, he will not complain that more has not been accomplished, but view excellence with due approbation, and defect with good-natured indulgence.

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