THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES O F Joe Thompson, A Narrative founded on Fact. Written by Himself. To wake the Soul, by tender Strokes of Art ; POPE. Printed for JOHN HINTON, at the King's-Arms, Drfell 9-13- 39 39126. [iii] THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. IR T may, perhaps, be expected, by the Reader, that fome Account fhould be prefixed to this Work, more than he will find in the Work itfelf, of the Motives for publishing it; and fuch other Matters as Custom has made the Subject of a Preface; and, in order to comply with the natural Curiofity of this Country, which is ftill exploring farther and farther into the Reasons of Things, and is hardly ever to be fatisfied, till it has fifted an Affair to the very Bottom, I am going to acquaint him, that, tho' Mr. Thompson has been fome Years in England, the eager Defire, his numerous Friends and Acquaintance ftill expreffed to hear him relate his Adventures, grew quite troublefome to him; and, in his own Defence, he yielded to my preffing Sollicitations to digeft the various and uncommon Accidents that have chequered his Life, into a Narrative that fhould at once ease him of that Trouble of answering fuch Numbers of Questions, as were every Day put to him; and at the fame Time I made Use of the aforefaid Rea |