BY WILLIAM COWPER, ESQ. TOGETHER WITH HIS POSTHUMOUS POETRY, AND A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE BY JOHN JOHNSON, LL. D. THREE VOLUMES IN ONE. NEW EDITION. BOSTON PUBLISHED BY PHILLIPS & SAMPSON, 110 WASHINGTON STREET. 375164 Verses, supposed to be written by Alexander Selkirk during his abode in the Island of PREFACE ΤΟ THE FIRST VOLUME. WHEN an Author, by appearing in print, requests an audience of the publick, and is upon the point of speaking for himself, whoever presumes to step before him with a preface, and to say, "Nay, but hear me first," should have something worthy of attention to offer, or he will be justly deemed officious and imper tinent. The judicious reader has, probably upon other occasions, been beforehand with me in this reflection: and I am not very willing it should now be applied to me, however I may seem to expose myself to the dan ger of it. But the thought of having my own name perpetuated in connexion with the name in the title page, is so pleasing and flattering to the feelings of my heart, that I am content to risk something for the gratification. This Preface is not designed to commend the Poems to which it is prefixed. My testimony would be insufficient for those who are not qualified to judge properly for themselves, and unnecessary to those who are. Besides, the reasons which render it improper and unseemly for a man to celebrate his own performances, or those of his nearest relatives, will have some |