THE

GRAY'S-INN JOURNAL

NUMBER I.

Saturday, Oct. 21, 1752.

Non fuit confilium focordiâ atque defidiâ

Bonum otium conterere.

SALLUST.

T has been remarked by writers, whom a de fire of adding to the entertainment of the public has incited to portion out their endeavours into periodical effays, that the first address has occafioned more vehement corrofions of the nails, and more frequent rubbings of the forehead, than any other fucceffive compofition. In the common occurrences of life we meet with fomething of a fimilar nature every day. Men not yet hackneyed in the ways of the world, upon their firft admiffion into company, are apt to betray uncouth and aukward movements in their deportment,

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ment, arising from the different ideas of bashfulnefs and diffidence, which agitate their minds, until the initial ceremonies are adjusted. As I propofe to hold a literary intercourfe with the public, and flatter myself with the hopes of converfing with many hundreds of my countrymen every Saturday, I cannot iffue out my first performance, without feeling an extraordinary folicitude for the event. To fay the truth, I find myself difconcerted by thofe alarms and perturbations of fpirit, which are apt to feize people of fenfibility in their tempers, when irresistible principles of action have prevailed over their modefty, and called them forth into a confpicuous point of view. The first impreffion has always great influence upon mens judgments. The mind will often haftily form affociations of ideas, which it cannot afterwards eafily feparate. On this account I have been not a little anxious about my first appearance. After much contemplation and deep ftudy, I fhould have been entirely at a lofs how to conduct my first addrefs, had not the example of our parliamentary candidates pointed out a mode of eloquence, to which I think proper to adhere on the prefent occafion, as the most perfuafive rhetoric I can fuggeft to myself.

Το

To the GENTLEMEN, CLERGY, and FREEHOLDERS of GREAT-BRITAIN.,

GENTLEMEN,

AS I have bad the honour, at a meeting of my friends, to be put in nomination to represent you, and all your vices, follies, and foibles, in a new paper, to be published every Saturday, and entitled The Gray's-Inn Journal, I defire the favour of your votes and intereft, affuring you that I fhall at all times exert my most vigorous endeavours to ferve you, being a fincere friend to the cause of true wit and humour, and a Steady affertor of decency, virtue, and good-manners. With thefe fentiments I have the honour to be,

GENTLEMEN,

Your most obedient and devoted fervant,

CHARLES RANGER.

N. B. I am of no party whatever.

Having thus declared my ambition for literary fame, I do not expect that all those rival wits, who for fome time paft have been making their court to the public, fhould inftantly decline the poll on the contrary, I am apprehensive, as generally happens at elections, that much fcurrility will be discharged upon the prefent writer; and I am no way doubtful but they will proceed to the ex

tremity of difputing my property in Parnaffus, and obliging me to make out my qualification. Of this, however, I hope to give fufficient proof in the fequel. In regard to the petty animofities, which are apt to embitter the minds of thofe, who to a small fhare of wit have added the imbecillities of a mean and little fpirit, it is my intention to purfue my courfe, without going out of the way, like the countryman in the fable, to crush the grafshoppers that made a noife around him. I fhall confole myself in that cafe with a reflection that thofe nuifances are ever found in the funfhine.

Sole fub ardenti refonant arbusta cicadis.

VIRGIL.

In the prosecution of this defign the reader is not to expect any fcandal, any detraction, or ill-nature. The mala mentis gaudia, as Virgil calls the gratifications of a malevolent spirit, are not in my character or difpofition. The paper, which I have undertaken to write, is intended for other purposes, namely, to promote useful mirth and good humour. To fecure thefe in my own temper, and to fow their feeds in others, I fhall here beg leave to fay a few words to my friends, the CRITICS

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