I AM very happy in the composition of this
work; for though but of a trifling nature as to sentiment;
yet, in what I do write, no one can attribute
to me the least tincture of satire, or ridicule of individuals
or public bodies. This is what I very much
dislike in others, and would be far from indulging in
myself. I acknowledge, that in my earlier years,
and in the course of my academical studies, I had
contracted some taste, and even habit, this way;
owing to my reading the dialogues of Lucian, in the
original Greek. Had I read them in a translation,
they might have made less impression. But by
means of a difficult language, studying them slowly,
the turn of thought became more deeply impressed
upon my mind. Moreover, afterwards, when I came
to have some acquaintance with the modern wits,

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such as Cervantes, Le Sage, and especially Swift, I
found myself still more inclined to an ironical, and
ludicrous way of thinking and writing. But finding
the bad effects of this in many respects, leading me
into broils with individuals, and rendering me obnoxious
to public bodies, I saw the indiscretion and bad
policy of such indulgence; and have for several years
past, carefully avoided every thing of this kind. It
is indeed acting but a poor part in life to make a
business of laughing at the follies of others. It is
injurious to one's self; for there is a great deal more
to be gained by soothing and praising what men do,
than by finding fault with them. It may be said of
satire, what was said of anger by some philosopher,
It never pays the service it requires. It is your
scratching, rump-tickling people that get into place
and power. I never knew any good come of wit and
humour yet. They are talents which keep the owner
down. For this reason, I have taken care to repress
all propensity to this vice; and I believe I can say it
with truth, that since I have come to the years of a
man's understanding, I have carefully avoided every
thing of this nature. Had it not been for this prudence,
I should not have been in a fair way, as I
now am, to be a member of congress, or a judge on
the bench, or governor of a commonwealth, or secretary
of state, or any thing that I may have in view.
Had I remained an admirer of Rabelais, or Sterne,
or other biting, jeering writers, that I at first met
with, I might at this day have been considered as a
wit only, without the least advancement in state affairs.
But I would sooner see your Juniuses, and
your Peter Pindars, libelling kings and ministers, at
hell, than sacrifice my interest to my passion, or my
vanity, by strokes of wit, which is but another name
for ill-nature.

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In this treatise, which is simply a relation of the
adventures of an individual, I have nothing to do with
strictures upon particular persons, or the affairs of
men in general, and so have no temptation to the
folly I have just mentioned. The reader, if any
body ever reads it, will find nothing here but philanthropic
and benevolent ideas.

Indeed, as it has been known that I was engaged
in writing something, persons who either took, or
pretended to take, some interest in my affairs, have
urged me very much to depart a little from my
usual way, and make use of a little irony, by way of
seasoning to the composition; for, in this case, it
would be received better, and procure more readers;
mankind being naturally delighted with ridicule....
But the truth was, I could see nothing to be ironical
about; owing, perhaps, to my not being in the habit
of looking for the ridiculous, and so having lost the
talent of discovering it. But my resolution that I
had taken would have fully preserved me from such
a lapse, however numerous the objects of ridicule
might be, that presented themselves. This will
serve as an apology to those who have solicited me
on this head, and relieve me from such solicitations
for the future.

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