To the reader. Gentle reader! For I could wish you of such a disposition, and that you took up this little book in one of your moments of good humour else I fear you will know more of me than I desire you should. I mean my faults; and as we may possibly be better acquainted, I think it a duty incumbent upon me to pay my respects to you, before I address myself to any other person. My intention in publishing these letters was to afford you some entertainment [iv]I dare not say information lest you should have more knowledge of the subject than I can pretend to, and you are certainly one of the last persons in the world whom I would offend. Happy if I obtain your approbation. I am not very sollicitous about the favourable report of those who never read, yet give a decisive opinion of every work that comes out. As a great deal of knowledge is not requisite in order to understand the following sheets, I hope you are not one of those who pretend to a very uncommon share of it. On that account your remarks will probably be less severe, and you may sometimes be pleased without enquiring why you was so, or preventing others from innocently beguiling an hour, which they might otherwise be at a loss in what manner to dispose of. The principle merit of this book I submit entirely to your decision; but hope you will give me leave to point out an advantage or two which I think you will find in the perusal. As the letters are not very long, you cannot often be fatigued before you come to a resting-place; and by running over the beginning of each you may generally guess at the subject; so that, whenever you meet with any one of them that happens not to hit your fancy, I earnestly intreat you not to persist in reading it, but immediately turn to something else which perhaps may suit you better. It has always been the custom, since books have been printed, for the authors of them to say very civil things of the persons to whom they dedicate their works. This laudable custom I would certainly follow, did not an obstacle [vi] intervene which cannot immediately be removed. As I have not the honour to know you, I might very possibly ascribe the shining talents of a statesman, or the heroick qualities of a warrior, to a lady; or bestow the amiable character of an affectionate mother, or a dutiful wife, on a gentleman. Thus unfortunately debarred from the pleasing task of acquainting the publick with your virtues: permit me however to assure you that I am, with great respect, sir or madam, your most obedient and most humble servant, the author.