THE SORROWS OF WERTER: A GERMAN STOR 2. Tædet cœli convexa tueri. A NEW EDITION. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed for T. OSBORNE and S. GRIFFIN. PREFACE. THOSE 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 country. It is drawn by the masterly hand of Mr Goethe *, and is perhaps little more than the relation of a fact which happened within A 4 ? his * Doctor of Civil Law, and author of fome dramatic pieces, which are much efteemed. bis knowledge. It went through feveral editions in German, and foon made its way into France. About two years fince, the English tranflator met with it; and being ftruck 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 increafed in proportion as it was attended to, the whole was infenfibly finished; and as no tranflation from the German has hitherto appeared, it is now offered to the Public. Among the number of Pamphlets which this little work gave occafion to, |