 | The Red Rover |  |
PREFACE.
The Writer felt it necessary, on a former occasion, to state,
that, in sketching his marine life, he did not deem himself
obliged to adhere, very closely, to the chronological order of
nautical improvements. It is believed that no very great violation
of dates will be found in the following pages. If any keen-eyed
critic of the ocean, however, should happen to detect a
rope rove through the wrong leading-block, or a term spelt in
such a manner as to destroy its true sound, he is admonished of
the duty of ascribing the circumstances, in charity, to any thing
but ignorance on the part of a brother. It must be remembered
that there is an undue proportion of landsmen employed in the
mechanical as well as the more spiritual part of book-making;
a fact which, in itself, accounts for the numberless imperfections
that still embarrass the respective departments of the occupation.
In due time, no doubt, a remedy will be found for this crying
evil; and then the world may hope to see the several branches
of the trade a little better ordered. The true Augustan age of
literature can never exist until works shall be as accurate, in
their typography, as a “log book,” and as sententious, in their
matter, as a “watch-bill.”
On the less important point of the materials, which are very
possibly used to so little advantage in his present effort, the
Writer does not intend to be very communicative. If their truth
be not apparent, by the manner in which he has set forth the
events in the tale itself, he must be content to lie under the
imputation of having disfigured it, by his own elumsiness. All
testimony must, in the nature of things, resolve itself into three
great classes—the positive, the negative, and the circumstantial.
The first and the last are universally admitted to be entitled to
the most consideration; since the third can only be resorted to
in the absence of the two others. Of the positive evidence of
the verity of its contents, the book itself is a striking proof. It is
hoped, also, that there is no want of circumstance to support
this desirable character. If these two opening points be admitted,
those who may be still disposed to cavil are left to the full
enjoyment of their negation, with which the Writer wishes them
just as much success as the question may merit.
| The Red Rover | |