page viii:  Whence in Aristotle such Persons are termed
  “epidexioi”, dexterous Men
    The Greek may read “epidezioi”; the letter-form makes it
    uncertain.

page 14:  ... without any Reference to their whimsical Oddities
  or Foibles;
    Text reads Oddistie.

page 20 and elsewhere:  “Biass” is an attested variant spelling;
  it has not been changed.

page 25:  “teizes” (modern “teases”) is an attested variant spelling;
  it has not been changed.

page 40:  —­It is therefore no wonder that Signior Don Quixote of
  la Mancha ... 
    Text reads Quoxote. ]

*       *       *       *       *
*       *       *       *
*       *       *       *       *

An
ESSAY

Towards Fixing the
TRUE STANDARDS
of
WIT, HUMOUR, RAILLERY,
SATIRE, and RIDICULE.

To which is Added, an
ANALYSIS
Of the CHARACTERS of

An HUMOURIST, Sir John Falstaff,
Sir Roger De Coverly,
and Don Quixote.

Inscribed to the RIGHT HONORABLE
ROBERT Earl of ORFORD.

By the AUTHOR of a
LETTER from a BY-STANDER.

——­ Jacta est Alea.

LONDON: 

Printed for J. ROBERTS, at the Oxford-Arms,
in Warwick-lane; and W. BICKERTON,
in the Temple-Exchange, near the
Inner-Temple-Gate, Fleet-Street.

M DCC XLIV. [Price 2s.]

* * * * *

INTRODUCTION.

An Attempt to describe the precise Limits of WIT, HUMOUR, RAILLERY, SATIRE and RIDICULE, I am sensible, is no easy or slight Undertaking.  To give a Definition of WIT, has been declared by Writers of the greatest Renown, to exceed their Reach and Power; and Gentlemen of no less Abilities, and Fame, than Cowley, Barrow, Dryden, Locke, Congreve, and Addison, have tryed their Force upon this Subject, and have all left it free, and unconquered.  This, I perceive, will be an Argument with some, for condemning an Essay upon this Topic by a young Author, as rash and presumptious.  But, though I desire to pay all proper Respect to these eminent Writers, if a tame Deference to great Names shall become fashionable, and the Imputation of Vanity be laid upon those who examine their Works, all Advancement in Knowledge will be absolutely stopp’d; and Literary Merit will be soon placed, in an humble Stupidity, and solemn Faith in the Wisdom of our Ancestors.

Whereas, if I rightly apprehend, an Ambition to excell is the Principle which should animate a Writer, directed by a Love of Truth, and a free Spirit of Candour and Inquiry.  This is the Flame which should warm the rising Members of every Science, not a poor Submission to those who have preceded.  For, however it may be with a Religious DEVOTION, a Literary One is certainly the CHILD of Ignorance.