audaciously burlesqued.

In commenting on a work, however trifling, which has survived the
lapse of twenty years, an author may almost claim the privileged
garrulity of age; yet even in a professedly gossiping Preface, we
begin to fear that we are exceeding our commission, and abusing the
patience of the reader. If we are doing so, we might urge
extenuating circumstances, which will explain, though they may not
excuse, our diffuseness. To one of us the totally unexpected success
of this little work proved an important event, since it mainly
decided him, some years afterwards, to embark in the literary career
which the continued favour of that novel-reading world has rendered
both pleasant and profitable to him. This is the first, as it will
probably be the last, occasion upon which we shall ever intrude
ourselves personally on the public notice; and we trust that our now
doing so will stand excused by the reasons we have adduced.

LONDON, March, 1833



REJECTED ADDRESSES



LOYAL EFFUSION by W. T. F. {7a}



Quicquid dicunt, lando: id rursum si negant,