Beginneth with the Proprietor's Benes volence, and endetb with introducing SHE princ fied, this myse bric othe who SHEN- SHENSTONE-GREEN. 3 6 CHAP. I. THE PROPRIETOR'S PREFACE. I AM fitting down to write a book for the use of all those projectors who build towns upon poetical principles. No man is better qualified, as far as experience goes, to set this matter in a properer light than myself, because I have wasted more brick, mortar, and money, than any other individual in Europe. Let him who hath seen, judge ; and let him Vol, I, B point point out proprieties to others who hath bitterly felt his own folly. It is on this principle that I shall circumftantially relate certain pleasantries which cost me many years of my time, and many thousand pounds of my money. Not that this work will be generally useful; for, luckily, more of my readers erect houses for themselves than for others; and there is no danger of its ever becoming a fashion to ruin oneself by a good intention. Benevolence is in these days a tolerable oeconomist-as prudent a lady as could be well desired in a family—and we have nothing to fear from the influence of exceflive virtues. The nation will never be destroyed that way. Praise, Praise, therefore, to the discreet qualities of the age, my warning will be only for a few, and those chiefly a fet of simpletons who work up their hearts to a warımth that mounts into the brain, and brings on the convulsions of sympathy. Such hath been my disorder. It is to you, ye gentle beings, whose bosoms are fraught with foreign woes; whose weeping eyes and milky tempers render you the flaves rather than the friends of virtue: to you I address the sentiments and the adventures of a man who was arrogant enough to suppose he could make human creatures live for rather than upon one another. Yes, I am the man who hath attempted this. The success or miscarB 2 riage riage of that attempt must be your lefon. As to the rest of the world, I desire heartily it may have its laugh. |