"AND BE THESE JUGGLING FIENDS NO MORE BELIEV'D, "THAT KEEP THE WORD OF PROMISE TO OUR EAR, " AND BREAK IT TO OUR HOPE." SHAKESPEAR. THE FOURTH EDITION. London: PRINTED FOR JOHN HATCHARD, BOOKSELLER TO 1800 PREFACE. be AMONG the various caufes which may affigned for the extraordinary corruption of the human race, one of the most powerful has, perhaps, in all ages, been the perverfion of language. Did Vice stalk abroad unveiled in her native deformity, few, whofe minds were not under the immediate influence of fome impetuous paffion, would have fufficient boldness to meet the terrors of her afpect; few could refolve to incur the infamy which would inevitably cover thofe who appeared in her train. To fuch, therefore, as would feize the fatal pleasures which the boasts her power to offer, no expedient can occur by which they may more effectually evade the reproaches of their own confciences, and the just cenfure of the world, than to invent a new vocabulary; to call evil good and good evil; and when, by the ufe of these false terms, they A 2 |