Elegant Extracts: Or, Useful and Entertaining Pieces of Poetry, Selected for ...

is the leaft fallible test of merit in the fine arts, and particularly in Poetry. Whatever was found in previous collections, which experience had pronounced proper for schools, has been freely taken and admitted : the stamp of experience gave it currency. The freedom of borrowing, it is hoped, will be pardoned, as the collectors, with whom it has been used, first set the example of it.

It is unnecessary, and perhaps might be deemed impertinent, to point out the mode of using the Collection to the best advantage. It is evident that it may be used in schools, either in recitation, transcription, t'ae exercise of the

memory, or in imitation. It furnishes an abundance of models, which are the best means of exciting genius. Such Arts of Poetry as those of Gildon, Bysfhe, Newbery, and their imitators, effect but little in the dry method of technical precept ; and the young Poet, like the Sculptor, will improve moft by working after a model. It is evident that this Collection may be usefully read at ENGLISH SCHOOLS, in the claffes, just as the Latin and Greek authors are read at the grainmar-schools, by explaining every thing grammatically, historically, metrically, and critically ; and then giving a portion to be learned by memory. The Book, it is hoped, will be particularly agreeable and useful in the private studies of the amiable young Audent, whose first love is the love of the Muse, and who courts her in his summer's walk, and in the solitude of his winter retreat, or at the social domestic fire-lide.

In the latter part many little pieces are admitted, mere lufus poetici, chiefly for the diversion of the student. They are, it must be confessed, no more than fiowerets at the bottom of Parnassus; but it is hoped, that their admission will be approved, as they may gradually lead the scholar to afcend higher up the hill, who might have been deterred from approaching it if he had seen nothing in the first prospect, but the sublime, the folemn, and the fombrous.

The reader will have no cause to complain, if, instead of Extracts, he often finds whole poems inserted. This has been done whenever it seemed consistent with the design, and could be done without injustice. In this matter, the opinion of those who must be supposed best qualified to give it, was asked, and followed. The wish was to take nothing but what seemed to lie on the common, relinquished or neglected by the lord of the manor.

Though the Book is divided into Four Parts, yet the formality of regular and systematical arrangement of the component pieces, has not been strictly observed. Such compilations as these have not unfrequently been called garlands and nosegays : but in a garland or nosegay, who would place the tulips, the lilies, the pinks, and the roses in separate compartments ? In so artificial a disposition, their beauty and fragrance would be less pleasing than if they were carelessly

mingled

A 4

mingled with all the ease and wildness of natural variety. I hope the analogy will hold: if not, I must throw myself in this, as I do in all other circumstances of this Publication, upon my reader's indulgence. I expect not praise; but I confide in receiving pardon.

Perhaps the reader will be the more inclined to extend it towards me, if I do not weary him with apologies. I will then conclude my Preface with the ideas of Montaigne :-" I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought “ nothing of my own but the thread that ties them."

In every succeeding Edition a great variety of long and valuable Poems have been added, and the volume is consequently much enlarged. If some mistakes have insinuated themselves, in consequence of the Editor's distance from the press, it is hoped they will be considered with candour, as they are certainly but trivial, and may be corrected by the Reader's own fagacity.

ADVERTISE M E N T

TO THE

PRESENT

EDITION.

To the

O the above general Preface the Editor has only to add, that in this new In, Prellion he has made very considerable Improvements and Additions ; particularly, by a new and copious Selection from Young's Night Thoughts, with appropriate Titles prefixed to each Extract; by the insertion of Poems and Extracts from Churchill, Soame Jenyns, Langhorne, Akenfide, and several recent Authors of distinguished merit; and by the introduction of many ludicrous and ingenious Pieces of the Lyric and Epigrammatic kind, designed to add to the Amusement of the Young Reader, after the Study of graver, longer, and more finisbed Compositions.

The favourable Reception and long continued Approbation of this Collection cannot brut give Satisfaction to the Editor, who, while he sees it placed, as it is, in the hands of ingenuous Youth, of both Sexes, throughout this extended Empire, has the happiness to reflect that he has been humbly instrumental in sowing, in the vernal feajon, the Seeds of Tafle, Krowledge and Virtue, wherever the English Language is cultivated.

He hopes also that he has contributed to mingle Rofes with the Thorns of Life, and to sweeten the Bitternejs of the Ciup, by infufing into it the Sweets of Poeg,

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