THE MICROCOSM. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1786. Protinus Italiam concepit, et arma virumque, MARTIAL. HE, who a gnat had wept with artless tongue, It has often been observed, that an introduction is the part of a work the most embarrassing to the author, as well as the least entertaining to the reader. I have frequently wished that custom, or a literary etiquette, had prescribed some form so general, as to preclude the idea of VOL. I. B plagiarism, while it secured the author from the apprehension of misrepresenting himself to the world; as for instance, ΤΟ THE MOST HIGH AND PUISSANT CRITICS, BY THE SUFFERANCE OF THEIR SUBJECTS, OF WIT, POETRY, AND HUMOUR, KINGS, THE MICROCOSMOPOLITAN SENDS GREETING, Next to this, the method almost universally adopted by periodical writers, of usurping a feigned name and character, is perhaps the most eligible; the dignity of the author is not diminished by the egotisms of Isaac Bickerstaff, and the man with a short face reflects no portion of the ridicu lous 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 enquiry, and baffle all the arts of curiosity. Suffice it, that 66 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 unprecedented 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 Guar dian, 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 epick 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 villainy 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 an 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 expences 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 |