"IN the trifle, here presented to the Public, the reader will doubtless observe, that there are scarce any allusions to those great and important events, which have rendered the present year so distinguished an Aera in the history of mankind. To prevent the censure of criticism upon this circumstance, it may be necessary to inform him, that it was written at the commencement of the last summer. The reason why those alterations are not made, which the present situation of American affairs might justly require, and which, the writer is sensible, would be a principal ornament to the piece, is solely an extreme weakness of sight. This also must be accepted as an excuse for the want of that correctness and elegance, which are due to the opinion of mankind, and to the politeness of those young Gentlemen, whose request is the only cause of its publication. As no more copies of it will be printed, than are subscribed for, if any of the purchasers are disappointed, the author begs leave to observe, that the blame is wholly chargeable to their solicitations; as, by hearing it pronounced, they had a fair opportunity of judging for themselves."
This is an edition of a classical book first published in the eighteenth century.
