THE PREFACE. TH HE Writer of the following Letter, it may easily be obferved, is not fo ftudious to obtain a Character for Elegance of Compofition, as for the Honesty of his Heart and Intentions. He folemnly declares that the main Motive by which he is induced to publifh it is a Zeal for the Honour of an Univerfity, which, notwithstanding the repeated M175035 r repeated Stabs fhe has lately received from fome of her own Sons even now in her Bofom, is ftill in a fairer Way than fhe is generally thought to be. All Party-Spirit he utterly difavows and abhors; and. if he has expreffed himself rather warmly in one or two Paffages, he defires it may be attributed to the above Motive; which it is hoped will not yet be thought to have carried him beyond the Bounds of Decency, much lefs beyond those of Truth. It may perhaps with fome Juftice be objected to him, Non tali Auxilio, nec Defenforibus iftis Tempus eget: That That the prefent Circumftances of the University are fuch as feem to demand a publick Vindication of its Character from fome authoritative Pen. But this, it is pre fumed, has been delay'd for prudential Reasons: And therefore, with a View to gratify, in fome Measure, the general Impatience of feeing fomething from these Parts, the following Letter is publifhed. To a candid Reader, the Hurry in which it was drawn up, will be a fufficient Apology for the Inaccuracies he will meet with in it. After the Writer had waited fo long in Expectation of seeing the Caufe undertaken by a more able Advocate, the Time would admit of no formal LE |