The most Important Concerns of Private LIFE,
And particularly shewing,
The DISTRESSES that may attend the Misconduct
Both of PARENTS and CHILDREN,
In Relation to MARRIAGE.

Published by the EDITOR of PAMELA.

VOL.  IV.

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LONDON:

Printed for S. Richardson:  And Sold by JOHN OSBORN, in Pater-noster Row; ANDREW MILLAR, over-against Catharine-street in the Strand; J. and JA.  RIVINGTON, in St. Paul’s Church-yard; And by J. LEAKE, at Bath

M.DCC.XLVIII.

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THE EDITOR to the READER.

If it may be thought reasonable to criticise the Public Taste, in what are generally supposed to be Works of mere Amusement; or modest to direct its Judgment, in what is offered for its Entertainment; I would beg leave to introduce the following Sheets with a few cursory Remarks, that may lead the common Reader into some tolerable conception of the nature of this Work, and the design of its Author.

The close connexion which every Individual has with all that relates to MAN in general, strongly inclines us to turn our observation upon human affairs, preferably to other attentions, and impatiently to wait the progress and issue of them.  But, as the course of human actions is too slow to gratify our inquisitive curiosity, observant men very easily contrived to satisfy its rapidity, by the invention of History.  Which, by recording the principal circumstances of past facts, and laying them close together, in a continued narration, kept the mind from languishing, and gave constant exercise to its reflections.

But as it commonly happens, that in all indulgent refinements on our satisfactions, the Procurers to our pleasures run into excess; so it happened here.  Strict matters of fact, how delicately soever dressed up, soon grew too simple and insipid to a taste stimulated by the Luxury of Art:  They wanted something of more poignancy to quicken and enforce a jaded appetite.  Hence the Original of the first barbarous Romances, abounding with this false provocative of uncommon, extraordinary, and miraculous Adventures.

But satiety, in things unnatural, soon, brings on disgust.  And the Reader, at length, began to see, that too eager a pursuit after Adventures had drawn him from what first engaged his attention, MAN and his Ways, into the Fairy Walks of Monsters and Chimeras.  And now those who had run farthest after these delusions, were the first that recovered themselves.  For the next Species of Fiction, which took its name from its novelty, was of Spanish invention.  These presented us with something of Humanity; but of Humanity in a stiff unnatural state.  For, as every thing before was conducted by Inchantment; so now all was managed by Intrigue.  And tho’ it had indeed a kind of Life, it had yet, as in its infancy, nothing of Manners.  On which account, those, who could not penetrate into the ill constitution of its plan, yet grew disgusted at the dryness of the Conduct, and want of ease in the Catastrophe.