fees few who fhould be willing, and the man of genius, few who are able, to be authors; and a work that comes out unfupported by established names, is liable alike to the cenfure of the grave, and the fneer of the witty. Even Folly herfelf acquires fome merit from being displeased, when name or fashion has not fanctified a work from her displeasure.

This defire of levelling the pride of author. fhip is in none more prevalent than in those who themselves have written. Of these the unsuccessful have a prefcriptive title to criticifm; and, though established literary reputation commonly fets men above the neceffity of detracting from the merit of other candidates for fame, yet there are not wanting inftances of monopolifts of public favour, who wish not only to enjoy, but to guide it, and are willing to confine its influence within the pale of their own circle, or their own patronage. General cenfure is of all things the easiest; from fuch men it paffes unexamined, and its fentence is decifive; nay, even a studied filence will go far to fmother a production, which, if they have not the meanness to envy, they want the candour to appretiate with juftice.

In

In point of fubject, as well as of reception, the place where it appeared was unfavourable to the MIRROR. Whoever will examine the works of a fimilar kind that have preceded it, will eafily perceive for how many topics they were indebted to local characters and temporary follies, to places of public amusement, and circumstances of reigning fashion. But, with us, befides the danger of perfonal application, thefe are hardly various enough for the fubject, or important enough for the dignity of writing. There is a fort of claffic privilege in the very names of places in London, which does not extend to thofe of Edinburgh. The Canongate is almost as long as the Strand, but it will not bear the comparison upon paper; and Blackfriars-wynd can never vie with Drury-lane in point of found, however they may rank in the article of chastity. In the department of humour, thefe circumftances. must neceffarily have great weight; and, for papers of humour, the bulk of readers will. generally call, because the number is much greater of those who can laugh than of those who can think. To add to the difficulty, people are too proud to laugh upon cafy terms with one, of whofe title to make them

laugh

laugh they are not apprifed. A joke in writing is like a joke in converfation; much of its wit depends upon the rank of its author.

How far the authors of this paper have been able to overcome thefe difficulties, it is not for them to determine. Of its merits with the public, the public will judge; as to themfelves, they may be allowed to fay, that they have found it an amufement of an elegant, and, they are inclined to believe, of a ufeful kind. They imagine, that, by tracing the manners and. fentiments of others, they have performed a fort of exercise which may have fome tendency to cultivate and refine their own; and, in that fociety which was formed by this publication, they have drawn fomewhat clofer the ties of a friendship, which they flatter themselves they may long enjoy, with a recollection, not unpleafing, of the literary adventure by which it was ftrengthened and improved.

The disadvantages attending their publication they have not enumerated, by way of plea. for favour, or apology for faults. They will. give their volumes as they gave their papers, to the world, not meanly dependent on its favour, nor coldly indifferent to it. There is.

no idea, perhaps, more pleafing to an ingenuous mind, than that the fentences which it dictates in filence and obfcurity, may give pleasure and entertainment to thofe by whom the writer has never been feen, to whom even his name is unknown. There is fomething peculiarly interefting in the hope of this intercourfe of fentiment, this invifible fort of friendfhip, with the virtuous and the good; and the vifionary warmth of an author may be allow ed to extend it to diftant places, and to future times. If, in this hope, the authors of the MIRROR may indulge, they truft, that, whatever may be thought of the execution, the motive of their publication will do them no dishonour; that, if they have failed in wit, they have been faultlefs in fentiment; and that, if they fhall not be allowed the praife of genius, they have, at least, not forfeited the commendation of virtue.

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