Evelina | Page 2

Villars to
Evelina - LETTER LVII. Evelina to Miss Mirvan - LETTER LVIII.
Evelina to Miss Mirvan - LETTER LIX. Evelina in Continuation -
LETTER LX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXI. Evelina in
Continuation - LETTER LXII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars -
LETTER LXIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXIV. Evelina in
Continuation - LETTER LXV. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER
LXVI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXVII. Mr. Villars to
Evelina - LETTER LXVIII. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER
LXIX. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXX. Evelina in
Continuation - LETTER LXXI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER
LXXII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXIII. Mr. Villars to
Evelina - LETTER LXXIV. Lady Belmont to Sir John Belmont -
LETTER LXXV. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars - LETTER LXXVI.
Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXVII. Evelina in Continuation -
LETTER LXXVIII. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXIX.
Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXX. Evelina in Continuation -
LETTER LXXXI. Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXXII.
Evelina in Continuation - LETTER LXXXIII. Mr. Villars to Evelina -
LETTER LXXXIV. Evelina to the Rev. Mr. Villars
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ORIGINAL DEDICATION.
TO THE AUTHORS OF THE MONTHLY AND CRITICAL
REVIEWS.

GENTLEMEN, The liberty which I take in addressing to you the
trifling production of a few idle hours, will doubtless move your
wonder, and probably your contempt. I will not, however, with the
futility of apologies, intrude upon your time, but briefly acknowledge
the motives of my temerity; lest, by a premature exercise of that
patience which I hope will befriend me, I should lessen its benevolence,
and be accessary to my own condemnation.
Without name, without recommendation, and unknown alike to success
and disgrace, to whom can I so properly apply for patronage, as to
those who publicly profess themselves Inspectors of all literary
performances?
The extensive plan of your critical observations,-which, not confined to
works of utility or ingenuity, is equally open to those of frivolous
amusement,-and, yet worse than frivolous, dullness,-encourages me to
seek for your protection, since,-perhaps for my sins!-it intitles me to
your annotations. To resent, therefore, this offering, however
insignificant, would ill become the universality of your undertaking;
though not to despise it may, alas! be out of your power.
The language of adulation, and the incense of flattery, though the
natural inheritance, and constant resource, from time immemorial, of
the Dedicator, to me offer nothing but the wistful regret that I dare not
invoke their aid. Sinister views would be imputed to all I could say;
since, thus situated, to extol your judgment, would seem the effect of
art, and to celebrate your impartiality, be attributing to suspecting it.
As magistrates of the press, and Censors for the public,-to which you
are bound by the sacred ties of integrity to exert the most spirited
impartiality, and to which your suffrages should carry the marks of
pure, dauntless, irrefragable truth-to appeal to your MERCY, were to
solicit your dishonour; and therefore,-though 'tis sweeter than
frankincense,-more grateful to the senses than all the odorous perfumes
of Arabia,-and though
It droppeth like the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath,-

I court it not! to your justice alone I am intitled, and by that I must
abide. Your engagements are not to the supplicating authors; but to the
candid public, which will not fail to crave
The penalty and forfeit of your bond.
No hackneyed writer, inured to abuse, and callous to criticism, here
braves your severity;-neither does a half-starved garretteer,
Oblig'd by hunger-and request of friends,-
implore your lenity: your examination will be alike unbiassed by
partiality and prejudice;-no refractory murmuring will follow your
censure, no private interest will be gratified by your praise.
Let not the anxious solicitude with which I recommend myself to your
notice, expose me to your derision. Remember, Gentlemen, you were
all young writers once, and the most experienced veteran of your corps
may, by recollecting his first publication, renovate his first terrors, and
learn to allow for mine. For though Courage is one of the noblest
virtues of this nether sphere; and though scarcely more requisite in the
field of battle, to guard the fighting hero from disgrace, than in the
private commerce of the world, to ward off that littleness of soul which
leads, by steps imperceptible, to all the base train of the inferior
passions, and by which the too timid mind is betrayed into a servility
derogatory to the dignity of human nature! yet is it a virtue of no
necessity in a situation such as mine; a situation which removes, even
from cowardice itself, the sting of ignominy;-for surely that courage
may easily be dispensed with, which would rather excite disgust than
admiration! Indeed, it is the peculiar privilege of an author, to