distress; the mind tortured by the pangs of uncertainty (the events
then hidden in the womb of fate;) than the dry, narrative, unanimated
style of a person relating difficulties and danger surmounted, can be;
the relater perfectly at ease; and if himself unmoved by his own
story, not likely greatly to affect the reader.'

What will be found to be more particularly aimed at in the following
work is--to warn the inconsiderate and thoughtless of the one sex,
against the base arts and designs of specious contrivers of the other
--to caution parents against the undue exercise of their natural
authority over their children in the great article of marriage--
to warn children against preferring a man of pleasure to a man of
probity upon that dangerous but too-commonly-received notion, that a
reformed rake makes the best husband--but above all, to investigate
the highest and most important doctrines not only of morality, but of
christianity, by showing them thrown into action in the conduct of the
worthy characters; while the unworthy, who set those doctrines at
defiance, are condignly, and, as may be said, consequentially
punished.

From what has been said, considerate readers will not enter upon the
perusal of the piece before them as if it were designed only to divert
and amuse. It will probably be thought tedious to all such as dip
into it, expecting a light novel, or transitory romance; and look upon
story in it (interesting as that is generally allowed to be) as its
sole end, rather than as a vehicle to the instruction.

Different persons, as might be expected, have been of different
opinions, in relation to the conduct of the Heroine in particular
situations; and several worthy persons have objected to the general