lant Actions, have acquired that Your Name thro' all Ages fhall be read with Honour, where-ever Mention fhall be made of that Illuftrious Captain. I am, SIR, Your moft Obedient, and moft Humble Servant, The GUARDIAN. THE Publisher to the Reader. I Tis a Juftice which Mr. IRONSIDE owes Gentlemen who have fent Him their Affiftances from time to time, in the carrying on of this Work, to acknowledge that Obligation, tho' at the fame time He Himself dwindles into the Character of a Meer Publisher, by making the Acknowledgment. But whether a Man does it out of Justice or Gratitude, or any other Virtuous Reafon or not, it is alfo a Prudential Act to take no more upon a Man than he can bear. Too large a Credit has made many a Bankrupt, but taking even less than a Man can anfwer with Eafe, is a fure Fund for extending it whenever his Occafions require. All thofe Papers which are diftinguished by the Mark of an Hand, were written by a Gentleman who has obliged the World with Productions too fublime to admit that the Author of them fhould receive any Addition to his Reputation, from fuch loofe occafional Thoughts as make up thefe little Treatifes. For which Reafon his Name fhall be concealed. Thofe which are marked with a Star, were compofed by Mr. Budgell. That upon Dedications with the Epistle of an Author to Himfelf, The Club of little Men, The Receipt to. make an Epic Poem, The Paper of the Gardens of Alcinous, and the Catalogue of Greens, That against Barbarity to Animals, and fome others, have Mr. Pope for their Author. Now I mention this Gentleman, I take this Opportunity, out of the Affection I A 3 have bave for his Perfon, and Refpect to his Merit, to let the World know, that he is now Tranflating Homer's Iliad by Subfcription. He has given good Proof of His Ability for the Work, and the Men of greatest Wit and Learning of this Nation, of all Parties, are, according to their different Abilities, zealous Encouragers, or Solicitors for the Work. But to my prefent purpose. The Letter from Gnatho of the Cures performed by Flattery, and that of comparing Dress to Criticifm, are Mr. Gay's. Mr. Martin, Mr. Philips, Mr. Tickell, Mr. Carey, Mr. Eufden, Mr. Ince and Mr. Hughes, have obliged the Town with entertaining Difcourfes in these Volumes; and Mr. Berkley of Trinity-College in Dublin has embellished them with many excellent Arguments in Honour of Religion and Virtue. Mr. Parnelle will I hope forgive me that without his leave I mention, that I have feen his Hand on the like Occafion. There are fome Difcourfes of a lefs pleafing Nature which relate to the Divifions amongst Us, and fuch (left any of thefe Gentlemen should fuffer from unjust Sufpicion,) I muft impute to the right Author of them, who is one Mr. Steele of Langunnor in the County of Carmarthen in South-Wales. THE |