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Page 3
In the present facsimile edition, for reasons of space, only the
Introduction and the main body of the _Essay_ are reproduced. Although
Morris once remarked to David Hume that he wrote all his books "for
the sake of the Dedications" (_Letters of David Hume_ ed. Greig, I,
380), modern readers need not regret too much the omission of the
fulsome 32 page dedication to Walpole (The Earl of Orford). Morris
insists at the beginning that the book was inspired by a fervent
desire of "attempting a Composition, independent of Politics, which
might furnish an occasional Amusement" to his patron. The praise which
follows, in which Walpole is said to lead "the _Empire_ of _Letters_,"
is so excessive as to produce only smiles in twentieth century
readers. Walpole is praised for not curbing the press while
necessarily curbing the theatre, his aid to commerce and industry,
indeed almost every act of his administration, is lauded to the skies.
The Church of England, in which "the _Exercise_ of _Reason_ in the
solemn Worship of God, is the sacred _Right_, and indispensible
_Duty_, of Man," receives its share of eulogy. In every connection the
Tories are violently attacked.
The Dedication ends in a peroration of praise for Walpole's public
achievements which "shall adorn the History of _Britain_," and for his
"_Private Virtues_ and all the _softer Features_" of his mind. His
home of retirement is referred to in the lines of Milton:
"Great Palace now of Light!
Hither, as to their Fountain, other Stars
Repairing, in their golden Urns, draw Light;
And here [sic] the Morning Planet gilds her Horns."
[P.L. 7. 363-66]
"Thus splendid, and superior, your Lordship now flourishes in
honourable Ease, exerting universal Benevolence...." But in
dedications, as in lapidary inscriptions, as Dr. Johnson might
have agreed, a writer need not be upon oath.
At the end of the _Essay_ Morris reprinted two essays from _The
Spectator_, Nos. 35 and 62, and William Congreve's "An Essay concerning
Humour in Comedy. To Mr. Dennis" (Congreve's _Works_, ed. Summers, III,
161-68). Since these are readily available, they have not been included
in this edition.
The present facsimile is made from a copy owned by Louis I. Bredvold,
with his kind permission.
James L. Clifford
Columbia University
* * * * *
[Transcriber's Note:
The ARS edition included an errata slip, reproduced here. Where
text was changed or deleted, the original is given in brackets.
Corrections to the _Essay_ itself are listed after the ARS errata.]
Please paste the following in your copy of Corbyn Morris's
_Essay towards Fixing the True Standards of Wit_....
(_ARS_, Series One, No. 4)
ERRATA
INTRODUCTION:
page 5, line 1--"word apparently omitted" should be inclosed in
brackets.
page 5, line 6--"not identified" should be inclosed in brackets.
page 6, line 5--the first "of" should be omitted.
["modern readers need not regret too much of the omission
of the fulsome 32 page dedication"]
page 6, line 12, should read
"Walpole is praised for not curbing the press while necessarily
curbing the theatre, his aid to commerce".
["Walpole is praised for not curbing the theatre; his aid to
commerce"]
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