1 late Bishop GASTREL; as they made their Way pretty well fingly, fome to a fecond, Some to a third, and one to a fixth Edition, I hope they will not meet with a worfe Reception now they appear in a Body. Among my Writings were fome (one particularly) of a very ferious and interesting Nature, which was well received by the Learned both at home and abroad: This I had carefully revised, and improved, by great Additions, and imagined that all to-` gether would make a third Volume; but my Bookfeller, who knows the Taste of the Town better than I do, tells me, it will not do at prefent. As they are ready for the Prefs, (fays he) let them lie by, and I promise you, they shall be forthcoming, whenever they are called for. As fome of the Pieces contained in this Collection, may feem to carry the Appearance of an unbecoming Levity; my Apology is is truly and honeftly this: I was willing to try whether fome useful Truths might not find Admittance in a droll Dress, which would have been rejected in a better: How I have fucceeded, and how far I have acted out of Character, my Readers must judge; I can only beg their Candor, and fubmit to their Cenfures. ΑΝ |