. ON

VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

WRITTEN FOR THE AMUSEMENT.

OF

EVERYBODY,

BY

ONE WHO IS CONSIDERED

NOBODY.

"Vérité sans peur."

"My son," said the Quaker, “when thou seest a closed bag containing
many things, be not hasty in deciding on their qualities. Open it, and
examine for thyself: thou mayest then be enabled to form a just
opinion."

ANONYMOUS.

PRINTED BY J. W. BELL, 17 ANN-STREET, NEAR BROADWAY.

1835.

1

AN ADDRESS

TO THE OPENER OF THIS VOLUME.

In presenting you, my worthy friend, with these essays, I consider that I am laying you under some obligation, which, as you are a fine, high-spirited fellow, you will be anxious to cancel as soon as possible. I will put you in the way to do so-first, order a copy of the work-secondly, pay for it on delivery. You may then either give it a hasty perusal, or throw it by with the rest of your literary trash: of which, as I know you to be a novel reader, you doubtless have an abundance.

You perceive by this that you are perfectly well known to the author of these miscellanies, which were written for both your amusement and his own, but are now published for his exclusive benefit. Unlike Dr. Johnson, who wrote a great deal, and, in the opinion of a royal critic, (and a very correct opinion it was) wrote every thing well, I have done neither one nor the other : for the quantity I have had no time, and for the excellence possess no ability.