Anxiety_, for the _Fate_ of this Work;--Yet, I humbly apprehend, that
_this_ must freely be allowed me, that I have not been a _Plagiary_;
But have constantly delivered my own _original_ Sentiments, without
_purloining_ or _disfiguring_ the Thoughts of others; An _Honesty_,
which, I hope, is laudable in an _Author_; And as I have not _stolen_,
neither have I _concealed_, the _Merit_ of other Writers.

It will also be found, as I humbly apprehend, that I have never
_shunned_ the Subject: I mention this particularly, because it is
the Practice of many eminent Writers, after much _curvetting_ and
_prauncing_, suddenly to wheel, and retire, when they are expected
to make their most full Attack.--These Gentlemen, it is true, very
happily avoid _Danger_, and advance and retreat in _excellent Order_:
But, with their Leave, I must observe that they never do any
_Execution_; For Subjects, which have not been surveyed, and laid
open, are like _fortified Places_; and it is the Business of a
_Writer_, as well as of a _Soldier_, to make an Attack;--This has been
the Conduct I have held in the following _Essay_; and however I may
be _shattered_ upon any Occasion, I hope it will appear (if I may be
allowed the Expression) that I have fairly _charged_ the Subjects.

Having offered these Circumstances in my Favour, I must frankly
acknowledge, that I am not able to plead any _Hurry_ or _Precipitancy_
in the publishing of this Work, in Excuse of its Errors; Though
I clearly understand, that by making this Discovery, I absolutely
deprive myself of the most _genteel_ and _fashionable Screen_ now used
by Authors;--But I imagined, that it became me to spare no Labour or
Attention upon a Work, which I should presume to offer to the World;
Happening to esteem this _Care_ and _Concern_, a _Respect_ due to the
_Public_, and the proper Species of _Humility_ and _Modesty_ in an
_Author_.

* * * * *

An
ESSAY
on
Wit, Humour, Raillery, & c.

WIT is the LUSTRE resulting from the quick ELUCIDATION of one
Subject, by a _just_ and unexpected ARRANGEMENT of it with
another Subject.

This _Definition_ of WIT will more clearly appear by a short
Explanation.

It is the Province of WIT to _elucidate_, or _enlighten_ a Subject,
not by reasoning upon that Subject, but by a just and unexpected
Introduction of another _similar_, or _oppos