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Even by persons not favourably disposed to our establishment, it will hardly be denied, that it has never been supplied with more exemplary ministers than now; men, at once benevolent and beneficent; well instructed and zealous. Such has the writer almost always found them on personal knowledge; and such has he learned them to be from no limited inquiries amid their various seats of function-towns and villages. But is it fair toward these excellent men; these teachers professed of truth and justice; these, in the very highest acceptation of that termgentlemen; is it fair to put them forward as the vain teachers of dogmas, which they themselves hold—and are by others reputed to hold-for untrue and unjust? And ought we to subject their sincerest usefulness and all the various virtues which grace them, to the not unreasonable suspicion and dislike of men, (virtuous like themselves,) as being at all times convertible into instruments of political, or, what is far worse, of private social oppression?

No name is appended to the present attempt, because the author has none which might recom

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mend it to the publisher, or to the public. Because, (although himself in no degree doubting of the principles herein stated,) he cannot but know that there are some whom they will displease; and (in the perhaps not very probable case of finding readers) he would wish to avoid all chance of personal discussion. Because too, (although himself satisfied of the fitness of well-managed verse, as a vehicle for the simple truths he would convey,) he does not therefore feel himself called upon to encounter the ridicule of having published verses, which, however good in their intention, may, in point of execution, be far otherwise. He has learned too, that the attempt to rhyme reasonings leads to a tone somewhat dogmatical; and that the form of dialogue (wisely or unwisely here adopted) tempts to egotism. Such offences could not, he is aware, be pardoned to him as a recognised individual. He strives to persuade himself that they will be more readily forgiven to that purely dramatic personage-an interlocutor ; that mere abstraction-an anonymous author.

It has been suggested by one, to whose opinion

much deference is due, that "this preface and the following notes are superfluous; the former as containing nothing which is not in the poem; and of the latter, scarcely one being requisite for a wellread reader; and that both should be cashiered." Both are notwithstanding retained; the preface that every guest may know beforehand to what fare he is invited; and the notes, not only that the author may acknowledge some few of his many borrowings of thought and expression, but because he does not believe that the time is yet come, when even among "well-read readers it may be useless to fortify statements and principles, the most obvious and rightful, by the authority of names.

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RHYMED PLEA FOR TOLERANCE.

PREFATORY DIALOGUE.

"Sunt certi denique fines."- HORAT.

A. YES, I confess, I do regret the times When Pope and Dryden knit their manly rhymes; When sense, to fancy near, like light and shade, Each chasing each, their due succession made; Or, wisely intermingled, wrought to view Some master-work, not brilliant more than true.

That sister-reign is o'er; and, queen sublime, Fancy alone now rules each realm of rhyme;

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