reflected on the difficulties which a writer, unknown to the literary world, must necessarily encounter in his first appearance before the public, I thought it more prudent to publish my "Dissertation on Taste" by itself. This, perhaps, may have, in a few instances, (though I am not now aware of any) determined the mode of expression which I have used in the early part of this work; but if any allusions should be made in it to a second or third volume, the reader will attribute them to this circumstance alone. I am aware that the learned and critical reader will peruse the first production of a writer with more than ordinary scrutiny, particularly when he finds him commencing his literary career with a Dissertation on the most elegant, and the most undefined of subjects: he will call forth that analyzing acumen which has so frequently enabled him to detect the errors, and, if his sympathy has kept pace with his mental acquirements, to lament the wanderings of fancied genius. But whether he assume the haughty attitude of the censorious, or the milder benignity of the impartial critic, I feel equally tranquil as to the final result. I claim no indulgence for error,-on the contrary I shall feel indebted to any person who sets me right, and I will acknowledge with pleasure the justice of his remarks. As I admit no writer to be infallible, I cannot be vain enough to claim that privilege to myself which I deny to others. But while I am thus willing to acknowledge and recant whatever erroneous opinions I may have adopted in the present work, whether they be pointed out to me publicly or privately, yet neither public nor private motives will ever induce me to acknowledge myself in error, till I am first convinced of it, and I will always hold myself in readiness "to give an account of the faith that is in me." There is one merit which I may be allowed to claim-that of rendering my meaning, and the opinions which I have laboured to establish, clearly understood. That I have been right at all times is more than I can presume to assert; but, right or wrong, I apprehend my readers will be at no loss to discover the spirit and tenor of my arguments, as I have never sought to throw an importance over them, by that studied ambiguity of expression which affects to dignify style by perplexing the understanding; and which always looks most profoundly wise when it is most perfectly unintelligible. |