Madam,
To whom can a work which professes to blend amusement withinstruction, be dedicated with so much propriety, as to one, whosenumerous writings have satisfactorily demonstrated the practicabilityand value of such a union;--to one, who has stripped Romance of hermeretricious trappings, and converted her theatre into a temple worthyof Minerva? Justly has it been observed, that to the magic pens ofMadame D’Arblay and yourself we are indebted for having the Novelrestored to its consequence, and, therefore, to its usefulness; and Imay be allowed to add, that your Harry and Lucy has shown howprofitably, and agreeably, the machinery of fiction may be worked forthe dissemination of truth.
That a life which has been so honourable to yourself, and soserviceable to the commonwealth, may be long extended, and deservedlyenjoyed, is the fervent wish of
TO THE READER.
Tell me, gentle Reader, whether thou hast not heard of the box ofPandora, which was no sooner opened by the unhappy Epimetheus, than itgave flight to a troop of malevolent spirits, which have ever sincetormented the human race.--Behold!--I here present you with a magiccasket, containing a GENIUS alone capable of counteracting theirdireful spells. Thou mayest, perhaps, say that its aspect but illaccords with the richness of its promised treasure; so appeared thecopper vessel found by the fisherman, as related in the Arabian tale;but, remember, that no sooner had he broken its mystic seal, than theimprisoned genius spread itself over the ocean and raised its giantlimbs above the clouds. But this was an evil and treacherous spirit;mine is as benevolent as he is mighty, and seeks communion with ourrace for no other object than to render mortals virtuous and happy. Tobe plain, for you must already, my young friends, have unriddled mya