iv Although entertaining sentiments different from your own on some of those subjects, both in Religion and Politics, which, in the eventful period of the last thirty years, have agitated the public mind, and frequently broken the bonds of amity between friends; and from his situation necessarily called upon to avow and defend those opinions which he himself had conscientiously adopted; the writer is not aware that he has ever thereby forfeited your good will; certainly he has never, for a moment, experienced the slightest relaxation in your kindness-an instance of liberality, unpurchased by servile adulation, which, even in this professedly liberal age, will be more generally praised than imitated. Several of the following pieces received your approbation when first published. The reprint of a selection of them has been often solicited by friends, who, either from the principle of association, and the reminiscences of former and perhaps more happy times, or from partiality to the author, attribute to them more merit than they intrinsically pos sess. These solicitations have led to the present publication; and one gratification it affords him, is the opportunity of thus publicly acknowledging his obligations to your kindness, and of expressing his warmest wishes for your happiness, and the prolongation of your valuable life. With these sentiments, the writer begs leave to subscribe himself, DEAR SIR, Your most obedient Servant, HULL, June 29, 1829. I. W. CONTENTS. 1. On the qualifications of a Periodical Essayist..... 2. The difficulties of a second address................. 3. On the various motives for visiting the country. dispositions of mind requisite for enjoying it with 4. Letter from Priscilla on Starers; with the Inspector's 6. On eulogizing the dead: Letter from David Dulbard, proposing a new plan for newspaper obituaries, with the Inspector's remarks upon it.... 7. The rights of men, ought not to occasion a disregard 10. On the errors of parents, in choosing employments for 15. Fifty years ago and the present time contrasted, in the character of a tradesman of each; with a letter from Tofty Clappy, a modish trader and a plan pro- posed by him for a general reform.... 16. Letter from Sextus on slanderous conversation; re- marks thereon: anecdote of Sir R. Fletcher and 18. Timothy Softly's complaint of a notable wife; with 19. Filial kindness and attention exemplified in the charac- 20. Tofty Clappy's history of his speculations in horses. Crito on marriage gifts to the debtors..... .159 21. Letter from Sophia on the evils of gaming.-Observa- tions on that detestable vice.... 22. On proverbs:-and especially on "Take care of the pence; the pounds will take care of themselves."..173 23. On the choice of a title for these essays: and its con- sequences.—Letter from Lydia Thoughtless......183 |