University of Virginia Library

PREFACE.

I wrote Logan for an experiment. My object
was, to do what nobody else had done, or would
have the impudence to attempt.

I succeeded—but perhaps, it would have been
better for me, had I failed.

I have written Seventy-Six, for another, and a
better reason. I have written it, in the hope that
they, who have been bothered and frightened, with
the rambling incoherency, passion and extravagance
of Logan, may have an opportunity of getting
into a better humour, with the author; and,
if possible, with themselves.

Logan, I find, has been attributed to several
persons, most of whom are remarkable for nothing
but belles-lettres-foppery, and pretension;—
and the rest are mad—stark, staring mad: nay,
one of them, I believe, is actually under confinement,
while I am writing, in the Pennsylvania
hospital.

I feel the compliment. It is highly creditable to
the good sense of the publick. And I do not despair
of hearing Seventy-Six attributed to some
other ninnyhammer, quite as foolish, if not quite
so outrageous.

But, whatever be the reception of Seventy-Six,
I shall feel neither gratitude nor resentment toward

the publick. I have lived long enough to know that
they are never right, where it is possible to be
wrong; that popularity is no proof of merit; and,
that sudden popularity is never the reward of great
talent. And I have come to the conclusion that,
whatever may be the neglect of the publick, it is
more comfortable for an author to attribute it to—
bad printing—bad paper—want of zeal in the publisher;
stupidity—obstinacy—bad taste—prejudice
—degeneracy, or infatuation, in the literary world;
to a competition among trunk-makers, and grocers—nay,
to any thing and every thing, rather
than to incompetency in himself. That is my
rule—and I have found great comfort in the application
of it.

On the other hand, however successful an author
may be, he will be a hypocrite or a fool, if he
pretend to feel any gratitude to the publick, for
their favour. He ought to remember that the
obligation is as much their's as his: and that they
would see him, and his family, perish, inch by inch,
in starvation and wretchedness, before they would
buy his book, unless they had their money's worth.

So—Mr. Publisher, I will have no gratitude
expressed for me, whatever may be the sale of my
book. I shall feel none; and, I would sooner burn
the edition, than be suspected of it. See that you
do not commit me, therefore, in any of your advertisements.