All philosophers, who find
Some favourite system to their mind,
In every point to make it fit,
Will force all nature to submit.






P R E F A C E

to

"Headlong Hall" and the three novels
published along with it in 1837.

--------


All these little publications appeared originally without prefaces. I
left them to speak for themselves; and I thought I might very fitly
preserve my own impersonality, having never intruded on the
personality of others, nor taken any liberties but with public conduct
and public opinions. But an old friend assures me, that to publish a
book without a preface is like entering a drawing-room without making
a bow. In deference to this opinion, though I am not quite clear of
its soundness, I make my prefatory bow at this eleventh hour.