Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/26

 quets: Firt, That he will not expect to find Perfection in this Work; and Secondly, That he will excue ome Parts of it, if they fall hort of that little Merit which I hope may appear in others.

I will detain you, Sir, no longer. Indeed I have run into a Preface, while I profeed to write a Dedication. But how can it be otherwie? I dare not praie you; and the only Means I know of to avoid it, when you are in my Thoughts, are either to be entirely ilent, or to turn my Thoughts to ome other Subject.

Pardon, therefore, what I have aid in this Epitle, not only without your