THE WORKS OF HANNAH MORE, IN EIGHT VOLUMES: INCLUDING Several Pieces never before published. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed by A, Strahan, Printers-Street, FOR T. CADELL JUN, AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND. 1801. PREFACE. WHATEVER objections may be urged against the literary character of the present day, it must however be allowed to exhibit an evident improvement in fome material points. It is, for instance, no new obfervation, that vanity and flattery are now lefs generally oftenfible even in the most indifferent authors than they were formerly in fome of the beft. The most felf-fufficient writer is at length driven, by the prevailing fenfe of propriety, to be contented with thinking himself the prime genius of the age; but he feldom ventures to tell you that he thinks fo. Vanity is compelled to acquire or to affume a better taste, That fpirit of independence alfo, which has in many refpects impreffed fo mif chievous A 3 chievous a ftamp on the public character, has perhaps helped to correct the style of Prefaces and Dedications. Literary patronage is so much fhorn of its beams, that it can no longer enlighten bodies which are in themselves opake; fo much abridged of its power that it cannot force into notice a work which is not able to recommend itself. The favour of an individual no longer boasts that buoyant quality which enables that to swim which by its own nature is difpofed to fink. The influence of an Auguftus, or a Louis Quatorze, of a Mecænas, a Dorset, or a Halifax, could not now procuré readers, much lefs could it compel admirers for the panegyrift, if the panegyrift himself could command admiration on no better ground than the authority of the patron. The once dilated Preface is fhrunk into plain apology or fimple expofition. The long and lofty Dedication is (generally speaking) dwindled into a fober expreffion of respect for public virtue, a concife tribute of affection to private private friendship, or an acknowledgment for perfonal obligation. It is no longer ne ceffary for the dependant to be prophane in order to be grateful. No more are all the divine attributes fnatched from their rightful poffeffor, and impiously appropriated by the needy writer to the opulent patron. He ftill makes indeed the eulogium of his protector, but not his apotheofis. The yaineft poet of our day dares not venture, like him who has, however fo gloriously ac complished his own prediction, to fay, in fo many words, that his own work is more fublime than the royal height of pyramids. Nor, whatever fecret compact he may make for its duration, does he openly undertake to promise for his verfe, that it fhall flow coequal with the rivers, and furvive the established forms of the religion of his country. The most venal poetic parafite, no longer affures his protector, with "unhappy Dry❝den," that mankind can no more fubfift without his poetry, (the Earl of Middlefex's A 4 |