WORKS OF Oliver CONTAINING ALL HIS ESSAYS AND POEM $. LONDON: THE "HE following Essays have already appeared at different times, and in different publica tions. The pamphlets in which they were inserted being generally unsuccessful, these shared the common fate, without aflifting the bookseller's aims, os extending the writer's reputation. The public was too ftrenuously employed with their own follies, to be afliduous in eftimating mine; so that many of my best attempts in this way, have fallen victims to the tranfient topics of the times, the Ghost in Cock. lane, or the fiege of Tyconderago. But though they have passed pretty silently in the world, I can by no means complain of the circulation. The magazines and papers of the day have, indeed, been liberal enough in this refpect. Moft of these Essays have been regularly reprinted two or three times a year, and conveyed to the public through the channel of some engaging compilation. If there be a pride in multiplied editions, I have seen fome of my labours fixteen times reprinted, and claimed by different parents as their own. I have feen them flourished at the beginning with praise, and signed 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 passed them as their own. It |