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beneficial courſe thereof, in the ſpace of one month, at a very cheap rate, but as this would be interfering with the province of a learned and eminent gentleman of this city, who is in every reſpect better qualified for that taſk. I on that account, at preſent forbear it.
There is one thing however, Gentlemen, that I muſt obſerve to you, that is, that it will be neceſſary that all unlucky prejudices againſt my perſonal appearance and character be laid aſide, and to give me an impartial hearing before you proceed to cenſure as I indeed came by my lame leg, in the ſame way I came by my lame character: both very undeſervedly.
Some may ſay, when the Fox preaches, beware of the Geeſe, But this would be dubbing perhaps a poor innocent lamb a Fox, without aſſigning or giving a proper causa scientiae, and would reflect as little honour on you Gentlemen, my Auditory, as upon myſelf: For believe me, it would give me infinitely more pain to have you eſteemed a parcel of Geeſe, that to have the name and qualities of a Reynard conferred upon myſelf; and while you are ſo charitable as not to ſuſpect me for the one, I will never be ſo ungrateful, as give you the appelation of the other, for this at the ſame time, would be equally prejudical to my intereſt and character. And I flatter myſelf, that in the ſequel, the world will be convinced, that neither of theſe Epithets would be properly applied.
Let envy and malicious hate
Be huſh'd; and likewiſe foul debate,
Debarr'd from every gen'rous mind;
Impartial judges let me find.
To Criticiſe is very eaſy,
But let the Critic try to pleaſe ye:
He'll find the talk perhaps as hard
As I, your moſt ſubmiſſive bard:
But from your goodneſs 'tis expected,
That as I'm lame I'll be protected,
From Malcontents, from Fops and Beaux
Who are to ſenſe and virtue foes.
