Page:The genuine remains in verse and prose of Mr. Samuel Butler (1759), volume 1.djvu/43

 known, to which he alludes; and he cannot but observe, that many more might have been added, had I given way to a fondness for scribbling, too common upon such occasions.

my author stands in need of no apology, for the appearance he is going to make in the following sheets, the world may probably think that the Publisher does for not permitting him to do it sooner—All that I have to say, and to persons of candor I need to say no more, is, that the delay has been owing to a bad state of health and a consequent indisposition for a work of this nature, and not to indolence, or any selfish narrow views of my own.