POEMS:

By J. W. DALBY.

LONDON:

Printed by H.Hetherington, 13, Kingsgate Street, Red Lion Square,

FOR THE AUTHOR;

AND SOLD BY W. SIMPKIN AND R. MARSHALL,
STATIONERS'-HALL COURT,

t

Preface.

be

says,

MATTHEW PRIOR "An author is in the condition of a culprit: the public are his judges: by allowing too much, and condescending too far, he may injure his own cause, and become a kind of felo de se; and by pleading and asserting too boldly, he may displease the Court that sits upon him: his apology may only heighten his accusation." It will my endeavour to avoid these two extremes; and if I do not commit myself, by too much humility, I have no fear that I shall offend my Readers by too much confidence. I am perfectly aware of the critical objections which may be made to the following Poems; and though too conscious of my inability to supply their deficiencies, I could find or feign a variety of causes why they are no better, in order to excite surprise, that they can boast even their present degree of merit; for that they are believed to possess