THE MISCELLANEOUS WORK S O F DR. GOLDSMITH. CONTAINING ALL HIS ESSAYS AND POEMS, LONDON: Printed for W. OSBORNE, and T. GRIFFIN, in Holborn. MDCCLXXXIV. PRE FAC E. THE following Effays have already appear ons. ed at different times, and in different publicatiThe pamphlets in which they were inferted being generally unfuccefsful, thefe fhared the common fate, without affifting the bookfeller's aims, or extending the writer's reputation. The publick was too ftrenuously employed with their own follies, to be affiduous in eftimating mine; fo that many of my best attempts in this way, have fallen victims to the tranfient topick of the times, the Ghoft in Cock-lane, or the fiege of Ticonderago. BUT though they have paffed pretty filently in the world, I can by no means complain of their circulation. The magazines and papers of the day have, indeed, been liberal enough in this refpect. Most of thefe Effays have been regularly reprinted twice or three times a year, and conveyed to the publick through the channel of fome engaging compilation. If there be a pride in multiplied editions, 1 have feen fome of my labours fixteen times reprinted, and claimed by dif ferent parents as their own. I have feen them flourished at the beginning with praife, and figned at the end with the names of Philantos, Philalethes, Philaleutheros, and Philanthropos. The gentlemen have kindly stood sponsors to my productions, and, to flatter me more, have always paffed them as their own. |