reflects no portion of the ridiculous in his character on Steele or Addison.

Thus then I, GREGORY GRIFFIN, sally forth in this our lesser world, to pluck up by the roots the more trifling follies, and cherish the opening buds of rising merit.

It is the duty of a prudent general, before he hazards an engagement, to secure a safe retreat; why should a similar conduct be less defensible in an author? And now a conjecture there is, very likely to have arisen in the minds of my readers, and which they will wonder I have not answered before; namely, who I AM; Now as nothing is more painful than an ungratified desire of knowledge, I would advise my readers to repress and smother in its infancy this unhappy passion of inquisitiveness; as, whatever be the success of this my work, such precautions have been taken with regard to myself, as shall elude all the efforts of inquiry, and baffle all the arts of curiosity. Suffice it, that I boast with them of sucking the milk of Science' from our mother Eton, under the auspices of its present director; to whom (should this work ever be deemed worthy of so distinguished a patronage), I would wish to presume to look up for countenance and protection. But to proceed in the explanation of my design. As this attempt may have raised some degree of curiosity within the circle to which it is addressed, as it is in itself new and unprécedented in the annals of Eton, I think it incumbent on me, before I proceed any farther, to give an ample account of its scope and design; that the reader may be fully acquainted with the nature of the amusement or instruction he may expect to find; and that I may obviate any objections, which I foresee will arise to this undertaking. These I shall rank under the following heads; the age of the author, -the time it may take from his more serious avocations, and the tendency of the work itself.

When the respectable names of the Spectator, the Guardian, or the Rambler, recur to our memory, we start, and are astonished at the presumption of a puny authorling, who dares, at so early an age, tread in the steps of these heroes of wit and literature. No one can suppose, that it is my intention to affect to rival these illustrious predecessors. All that I can claim, is a sincere desire of executing that design in a narrower sphere, which they sustained with such applause in the wider theatre of the world. My ambition, I hope, is not illaudable; and if an apology is necessary for so early an attempt, I can plead the great examples both of ancient and modern learning : Virgil and Pope produced their Pastorals long before the one became the glory of Rome as her epic poet, or the other of Britain, as her philosopher and satirist; if these examples are objected to, as more peculiar to poetry than prose, Cicero's Treatise de Inventione was the juvenile effort of that mind, which was in future time to point the thunders of its eloquence against the betrayers of their country; to crush the audacious villany of a Catiline; or strip the deep hypocrisy of an Antony of its specious covering. If the above-mentioned compositions were only the preludes to the greater glories of a riper age, may not I, without incurring the charge of too much presumption, try the feebler efforts of my genius, and by degrees attempt to accustom myself to undertakings of a more trying and arduous nature.

For the time which it may be thought to take from my more serious avocations, the answer will be briefly this. It only occupies a few leisure hours, which might be more triflingly, if not more unworthily employed. This is a harmless recreation at

least.

My only aim is, that my leisure moments may in some respects be amusing, and I hope in some degree instructive to others, as well as myself. -Personal reputation cannot be my object; as the

voice neither of praise or calumny can affect him, who, by remaining unknown, remains equally inaccessible to either: the friends I should gain by this attempt would be useless, the enemies (if enemies I had) harmless. Profit cannot be my object, when the circulation is confined to such a narrow compass, and even that I would not wish to enlarge; if this essay will defray the expenses incident to such an undertaking, it is the summit of my hopes, and this, by the patronage of the circle I address myself to, I flatter myself I may perform.

To explain the nature and tendency of the work itself, is a task of greater length and difficulty; but this I shall willingly undertake, rather than leave the smallest part of this design unexplained, and consequently subject to ignorant misapprehensions, or wilful misconstruction. My design is to amuse, and, as far as I am able, to instruct. Trifling I shall endeavour as much as it is in my power to avoid; and the least tendency to immorality or profaneness, I absolutely, and in the strongest terms, reprobate and disavow. Does any one ask from whence am I to collect the materials for such an undertaking? from whence can I have acquired a fund of knowledge, language, or observation, sufficient to pursue this arduous plan? my materials are copious; the whole range, the inexhaustible fund of topics, which every event in life, every passion, every object present, lie before me; add to these, the stores which history, reading, and morality, or the offspring of a muse just struggling into notice can supply, combined with the topics of the moment, or those which our peculiar situation can afford, together with the hints, which those, who think the correspondence of the Microcosm worth their attention, may casually contribute; survey all these, and can I hesitate a moment, can I complain of a dearth of matter, or call my subject a barren one?

Quicquid agunt pueri; nostra farrago libelli.

with faithful hints portrays

The various passions youth's warm soul displays.

Not that I mean to exclude every thing of the light or humorous kind. The mind must sometimes be relieved from the severity of its stricter studies, and descending from the sublimer heights of speculative thought, deign to bend to inferior objects, and participate in less refined gratifications.

I consider the scene before me as a MICROCOSM, a world in miniature, where all the passions which agitate the great original, are faithfully portrayed on a smaller scale; in which the endless variety of character, the different lights and shades, which the appetites or peculiar situations throw us into, begin to discriminate, and expand themselves. The curious observer may here remark in the bud the different casts and turns of genius, which will in future strongly characterize the leading features of the mind. He may see the embryo statesman, who hereafter may wield and direct at pleasure the mighty and complex system of European Politics, now employing the whole extent of his abilities to circumvent his companions at their plays, or adjusting the important differences, which may arise between the contending heroes of his little circle; or a general, the future terror of France and Spain, now the dread only of his equals, and the undisputed lord and president of the boxing-ring. The Grays and Wallers of the rising generation here tune their little lyres; and he, who hereafter may sing the glories of Britain, must first celebrate at Eton the smaller glories of his college.

In the number and variety of subjects which I may occasionally touch upon, it is impossible, but that somebody may find a foible or a vanity, which he is conscious of, slightly reproved or ridiculed; but I solemnly renounce all intention of personal applica

tions: it would not only be cruel and unwarrantable in itself, wantonly to expose defects, which all are in some measure liable to; but would also effectually defeat my own intentions. Who would favour or protect him, who, Drawcansir like, indiscriminately slashed and cut at all around him? my answer to this objection is brief,

Qui capit ille facit

Let the gall'd jade wince.

I have now fairly and candidly stated every part of my plan, and answered every objection, which I think can be raised to it: I commit this to the public, as my first essay, with fear and trembling. Conscious of the novelty of my situation, may I hope that the higher powers will not look with a discouraging eye on my attempt. I have always seen too much care, too much attention, paid to every appearance of арplication, and a laudable ambition of excelling, to suppose, that they will obstruct my harmless and inoffensive endeavours. If they find any thing blamable, let them consider my age, and pardon it; if any thing praiseworthy, the good intent with which it was penned, and commend it. From my equals I look for still greater indulgence and less severity of criticism; let them read with candour and decide with impartiality, then I am not afraid of passing the ordeal of their judgment. The mind of youth is naturally too unbiassed by prejudice, too susceptible of generous sentiments, to be unfavourable to one, whose only aim is their pleasure and amuse

ment.

P. S. Whatever persons should be inclined to favour the author with their hints on any subject, they will be received and acknowledged with thankfulness. A letter directed to GREGORY GRIFFIN, the MICROCOSMOPOLITAN, and left at Mr.