PREFACE. T HOSE who expect a Novel will be disappointed in this work, which contains few characters and few events; and the defign of which is to exhibit a picture of that difordered state of mind, too common in our own country. It is drawn by the masterly band of Mr. Goethe*, and is perhaps little more than the relation of a fact which happened within his * Doctor of Civil Law, and author of fome dramatic pieces which are much efteemed. knowledge. knowledge. It went through feveral editions in German, and foon made its way into France. About two years fince the English translator met with it; and being struck with the uncommon genius and originality of the thoughts, and the energy with which they are expreffed, tranflated fome of the letters from the French; and led on by the beauty of the work, which encreafed in proportion as it was attended to, the whole was infenfibly finished; and as no tranflation from the German bas bitberto appeared, it is now offered to the Public. Among the number of pamphlets which this little work gave occafion to, there were PREFACE. vii were not wanting fome which cenfured it; and Mr. Goethé has been called the apologift of Suicide, by thofe who, not diftinguishing the Author from the Work, very abfurdly afcribed to him the erroneous fentiments which he has given to bis principal Character,-a method of criticifm which would equally affect all the epic and tragic writers that ever exifted. WERTER appears to have been ftrongby impreffed with fentiments of religion; and it is not to be wondered at, that in his ftate of mind they should take an irregular form, and fometimes border upon extravagance. A few expreffions which had this appearance, have been |