tailieunhanh - AN HISTORY OF BIRMINGHAM

A preface rather induces a man to speak of himself, which is deemed the worst subject upon which he can speak. In history we become acquainted with things, but in a preface with the author; and, for a man to treat of himself, may be the most difficult talk of the two: for in history, facts are produced ready to the hand of the historian, which give birth to thought, and it is easy to cloath that thought in words. But in a preface, an author is obliged to forge from the brain, where he is sometimes known to. | AN HISTORY OF BIRMINGHAM. A South View of BIRMINGHAM from the Summer House Cheapside Bordsley. THE SECOND EDITION WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS. By W. HUTTON. PREFACE. A preface rather induces a man to speak of himself which is deemed the worst subject upon which he can speak. In history we become acquainted with things but in a preface with the author and for a man to treat of himself may be the most difficult talk of the two for in history facts are produced ready to the hand of the historian which give birth to thought and it is easy to cloath that thought in words. But in a preface an author is obliged to forge from the brain where he is sometimes known to forge without fire. In one he only reduces a substance into form but in the other he must create that substance. As I am not an author by profession it is no wonder if I am unacquainted with the modes of authorship but I apprehend the usual method of conducting the pen is to polish up a founding title-page dignified with scraps of Latin and then to hammer up a work to fit it as nearly as genius or want of genius will allow. We next turn over a new leaf and open upon a pompous dedication which answers many laudable purposes if a coat of arms correctly engraven should step first into view we consider it a singular advantage gained over a reader like the first blow in a combat. The dedication itself becomes a pair of stilts which advance an author something higher. As a horse-shoe nailed upon the threshold of a cottage prevents the influence of the witch so a first-rate name at the head of a dedication is a total bar against the critic but this great name like a great officer sometimes unfortunately stands at the head of wretched troops. When an author is too heavy to swim of himself it serves as a pair of bladders to prevent his sinking. It is farther productive of a solid advantage that of a present from the patron more valuable than that from the bookseller which prevents his sinking under the pressure of .