PREFACE.

THE Works of the Author of “ CRAZY TALES" are too well known, and have been too long before the Publick, to need any recommendation. They have passed the Fiery Ordeal of Examination; and, whatever opinion may have been formed of them, whether arising from prejudice, from judgement, from friendfhip, or from caprice, that opinion is not likely to be altered by any thing which can be offered by an anonymous Editor.

The Author, whofe genius partook of Prior's wit and La Fontaine's ease and fpirit,

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fpirit, died, leaving his performances to the mercy of accident; many of them little known; and fome difficult to be obtained. The fate of fugitive pieces, after the courfe of a few years, has been a subject frequently and feelingly lamented by those who have wifhed to fave from deftruction the works of eminent authors. Already had the veil of oblivion begun to shade feveral of the performances contained in the present volumes. In a fhort time, what has now been obtained with difficulty would have been impoffible to procure on any terms what

ever.

Soon after the prefent edition was projected, an application was made to

the

the worthy reprefentative of the Author's family *, who, with the utmoft liberality and politeness, prefented the publisher with corrected copies of the greater part of these works, together with several original pieces of his grandfather, which now first appear in public. These add very much to the value of the work, and demand the grateful acknowledgement of the publisher.

It may be thought, by fome over delicate perfons, that an apology would here not be ill-placed for fome of the performances now republished; but this the editor declines, as he concurs in opinion with his Author, who has already observed, that,

* John Wharton, Efq. of Skelton-Castle, Yorkfhire, Member of Parliament for Beverley,

"Outcries against writings, composed with no worse intention than to promote good humour and chearfulness, by fighting against the tædium vita, were referved for an age of refined hypocrify. There ought to be a great diftinction between obscenity evidently defigned to inflame the paffions, and a ludicrous liberty which is frequently neceffary to fhew the true ridicule of hypocritical characters; which can give offence to none but such as are afraid of every thing that has a tendency to unmasking."

The most prominent features of the life of Mr. HALL, the author of these poems, are the poems themselves.

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