An History of Birmingham (1783)

An History of Birmingham
(1783)

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Title: An History of Birmingham (1783)
Author: William Hutton
Release Date: November 2, 2004 [EBook #13926]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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AN
HISTORY
OF
BIRMINGHAM.
[Illustration: the-text-caption]

THE SECOND EDITION,
WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS.

By W. HUTTON.

PREFACE.
A preface rather induces a man to speak of himself, which is deemed
the worst subject upon which he can speak. In history we become
acquainted with things, but in a preface with the author; and, for a man
to treat of himself, may be the most difficult talk of the two: for in
history, facts are produced ready to the hand of the historian, which
give birth to thought, and it is easy to cloath that thought in words. But
in a preface, an author is obliged to forge from the brain, where he is
sometimes known to forge without fire. In one, he only reduces a
substance into form; but in the other, he must create that substance.
As I am not an author by profession, it is no wonder if I am
unacquainted with the modes of authorship; but I apprehend, the usual
method of conducting the pen, is to polish up a founding title-page,
dignified with scraps of Latin, and then, to hammer up a work to fit it,
as nearly as genius, or want of genius, will allow.
We next turn over a new leaf, and open upon a pompous dedication,
which answers many laudable purposes: if a coat of arms, correctly
engraven, should step first into view, we consider it a singular
advantage gained over a reader, like the first blow in a combat. The
dedication itself becomes a pair of stilts, which advance an author
something higher.
As a horse-shoe, nailed upon the threshold of a cottage, prevents the
influence of the witch; so a first-rate name, at the head of a dedication,
is a total bar against the critic; but this great name, like a great officer,
sometimes unfortunately stands at the head of wretched troops.
When an author is too heavy to swim of himself, it serves as a pair of
bladders, to prevent his sinking.
It is farther productive of a solid advantage, that of a present from the
patron, more valuable than that from the bookseller, which prevents his
sinking under the pressure of famine.
But, being wholly unknown to the great names of literary consequence,
I shall not attempt a dedication, therefore must lose the benefit of the
stilt, the bladder, and the horse-shoe.
Were I to enter upon a dedication, I should certainly address myself,
"To the Inhabitants of Birmingham." For to them I not only owe much,

but all; and I think, among that congregated mass, there is not one
person to whom I wish ill. I have the pleasure of calling many of those
inhabitants Friends, and some of them share my warm affections
equally with myself. Birmingham, like a compassionate nurse, not only
draws our persons, but our esteem, from the place of our nativity, and
fixes it upon herself: I might add, _I was hungry, and she fed me_;
_thirsty, and she gave me drink_; _a stranger, and she took me in_. I
approached her with reluctance, because I did not know her; I shall
leave her with reluctance, because I do.
Whether it is perfectly confident in an author, to solicit the indulgence
of the public, though it may stand first in his wishes, admits a doubt;
for, if his productions will not bear the light, it may be said, why does
he publish? but, if they will, there is no need to ask a favor; the world
receives one from him. Will not a piece everlastingly be tried by its
merit? Shall we esteem it the higher, because it was written at the age
of thirteen? because it was the effort of a week? delivered extempore?
hatched while the author stood upon one leg? or cobbled, while he
cobbled a shoe? or will it be a recommendation, that it issues forth in
gilt binding? The judicious world will not be deceived by the tinselled
purse, but will examine whether the contents are sterling.
Will it augment the value of this history, or cover its blunders, to say,
that I have never seen _Oxford?_ That the