Prefaces To Fiction Part 3

[17] Histoire du Chevalier des _Essars_, & de la Comtesse de _Merci_, &c.

[18] _Fanseredin_, &c.

[19] M. _d'Argens_.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CLARISSA.

OR, THE

HISTORY

OF A

YOUNG LADY:

Comprehending

_The most_ Important Concerns _of_ Private LIFE, And particularly shewing, The DISTRESSES that may attend the Misconduct Both of PARENTS and CHILDREN, In Relation to MARRIAGE.

_Published by the_ EDITOR _of_ PAMELA.

VOL. IV.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_LONDON:_

Printed for S. Richardson: And Sold by JOHN OSBORN, in _Pater-noster Row_; ANDREW MILLAR, over-against _Catharine-street_ in the _Strand_; J. and JA. RIVINGTON, in _St. Paul's Church-yard_; And by J. LEAKE, at _Bath_

M.DCC.XLVIII.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE EDITOR _to the_ READER.

If it may be thought reasonable to criticise the Public Taste, in what are generally supposed to be Works of mere Amus.e.m.e.nt; or modest to direct its Judgment, in what is offered for its Entertainment; I would beg leave to introduce the following Sheets with a few cursory Remarks, that may lead the common Reader into some tolerable conception of the nature of this Work, and the design of its Author.

The close connexion which every Individual has with all that relates to MAN in general, strongly inclines us to turn our observation upon human affairs, preferably to other attentions, and impatiently to wait the progress and issue of them. But, as the course of human actions is too slow to gratify our inquisitive curiosity, observant men very easily contrived to satisfy its rapidity, by the invention of _History_. Which, by recording the princ.i.p.al circ.u.mstances of past facts, and laying them close together, in a continued narration, kept the mind from languishing, and gave constant exercise to its reflections.

But as it commonly happens, that in all indulgent refinements on our satisfactions, the Procurers to our pleasures run into excess; so it happened here. Strict matters of fact, how delicately soever dressed up, soon grew too simple and insipid to a taste stimulated by the Luxury of Art: They wanted something of more poignancy to quicken and enforce a jaded appet.i.te. Hence the Original of the first barbarous _Romances_, abounding with this false provocative of uncommon, extraordinary, and miraculous Adventures.

But satiety, in things unnatural, soon, brings on disgust. And the Reader, at length, began to see, that too eager a pursuit after _Adventures_ had drawn him from what first engaged his attention, MAN _and his Ways_, into the Fairy Walks of Monsters and Chimeras.

And now those who had run farthest after these delusions, were the first that recovered themselves. For the next Species of Fiction, which took its name from its _novelty_, was of _Spanish_ invention.

These presented us with something of Humanity; but of Humanity in a stiff unnatural state. For, as every thing before was conducted by _Inchantment_; so now all was managed by _Intrigue_. And tho' it had indeed a kind of _Life_, it had yet, as in its infancy, nothing of _Manners_. On which account, those, who could not penetrate into the ill const.i.tution of its plan, yet grew disgusted at the dryness of the Conduct, and want of ease in the Catastrophe.

The avoiding these defects gave rise to the _Heroical Romances_ of the _French_; in which some celebrated Story of antiquity was so stained and polluted by modern fable and invention, as was just enough to shew, that the contrivers of them neither knew how to lye, nor speak truth. In these voluminous extravagances, _Love_ and _Honour_ supplied the place of _Life_ and _Manners_. But the over-refinement of Platonic sentiments always sinks into the dross and feces of that Pa.s.sion. For in attempting a more natural representation of it, in the little amatory Novels, which succeeded these heavier Volumes, tho' the Writers avoided the dryness of the Spanish Intrigue, and the extravagance of the French Heroism, yet, by too natural a representation of their Subject, they opened the door to a worse evil than a corruption of _Taste_; and that was, A corruption of _Heart_.

At length, this great People (to whom, it must be owned, all Science has been infinitely indebted) hit upon the true Secret, by which alone a deviation from strict fact, in the commerce of Man, could be really entertaining to an improved mind, or useful to promote that Improvement. And this was by a faithful and chaste copy of real _Life and Manners_: In which some of their late Writers have greatly excelled.

It was on this sensible Plan, that the Author of the following Sheets attempted to please, in an Essay, which had the good fortune to meet with success: That encouragement engaged him in the present Design: In which his sole object being _Human Nature_; he thought himself at liberty to draw a Picture of it in that light which would shew it with most strength of Expression; tho' at the expense of what such as read merely for Amus.e.m.e.nt, may fancy can be ill-spared, the more artificial composition of a story in one continued Narrative.

He has therefore told his Tale in a Series of Letters, supposed to be written by the Parties concerned, as the circ.u.mstances related, pa.s.sed. For this juncture afforded him the only natural opportunity that could be had, of representing with any grace those lively and delicate impressions which _Things present_ are known to make upon the minds of those affected by them. And he apprehends, that, in the study of Human Nature, the knowlege of those apprehensions leads us farther into the recesses of the Human Mind, than the colder and more general reflections suited to a continued and more contracted Narrative.

This is the nature and purport of his Attempt. Which, perhaps, may not be so well or generally understood. For if the Reader seeks here for Strange Tales, Love Stories, Heroical Adventures, or, in short, for anything but a _Faithful Picture of Nature_ in _Private Life_, he had better be told beforehand the likelihood of his being disappointed. But if he can find Use or Entertainment; either _Directions for his Conduct_, or _Employment for his Pity_, in a HISTORY _of_ LIFE _and_ MANNERS, where, as in the World itself, we find Vice, for a time, triumphant, and Virtue in distress, an idle hour or two, we hope, may not be unprofitably lost.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

MEMOIRS

OF THE

_Count_ Du BEAUVAL,

INCLUDING

Some curious PARTICULARS

Relating to the DUKES of

Wharton _and_ Ormond,

During their Exiles.

WITH

ANECDOTES of several other Ill.u.s.trious and Unfortunate n.o.blemen of the present Age.

_Translated from the_ French _of the Marquis_ D'ARGENS, _Author of_ The Jewish Letters.

_By Mr._ DERRICK.

_LONDON:_

Printed for M. COOPER, at the _Globe_ in _PaterNoster-Row_.

M.DCC.LIV.