Part 3 (1/2)

[17] Histoire du Chevalier des _Essars_, & de la Comtesse de _Merci_, &c.

[18] _Fanseredin_, &c.

[19] M. _d'Argens_.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CLARISSA.

OR, THE

HISTORY

OF A

YOUNG LADY:

Comprehending

_The most_ Important Concerns _of_ Private LIFE, And particularly shewing, The DISTRESSES that may attend the Misconduct Both of PARENTS and CHILDREN, In Relation to MARRIAGE.

_Published by the_ EDITOR _of_ PAMELA.

VOL. IV.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_LONDON:_

Printed for S. Richardson: And Sold by JOHN OSBORN, in _Pater-noster Row_; ANDREW MILLAR, over-against _Catharine-street_ in the _Strand_; J. and JA. RIVINGTON, in _St. Paul's Church-yard_; And by J. LEAKE, at _Bath_

M.DCC.XLVIII.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE EDITOR _to the_ READER.

If it may be thought reasonable to criticise the Public Taste, in what are generally supposed to be Works of mere Amus.e.m.e.nt; or modest to direct its Judgment, in what is offered for its Entertainment; I would beg leave to introduce the following Sheets with a few cursory Remarks, that may lead the common Reader into some tolerable conception of the nature of this Work, and the design of its Author.

The close connexion which every Individual has with all that relates to MAN in general, strongly inclines us to turn our observation upon human affairs, preferably to other attentions, and impatiently to wait the progress and issue of them. But, as the course of human actions is too slow to gratify our inquisitive curiosity, observant men very easily contrived to satisfy its rapidity, by the invention of _History_. Which, by recording the princ.i.p.al circ.u.mstances of past facts, and laying them close together, in a continued narration, kept the mind from languis.h.i.+ng, and gave constant exercise to its reflections.

But as it commonly happens, that in all indulgent refinements on our satisfactions, the Procurers to our pleasures run into excess; so it happened here. Strict matters of fact, how delicately soever dressed up, soon grew too simple and insipid to a taste stimulated by the Luxury of Art: They wanted something of more poignancy to quicken and enforce a jaded appet.i.te. Hence the Original of the first barbarous _Romances_, abounding with this false provocative of uncommon, extraordinary, and miraculous Adventures.

But satiety, in things unnatural, soon, brings on disgust. And the Reader, at length, began to see, that too eager a pursuit after _Adventures_ had drawn him from what first engaged his attention, MAN _and his Ways_, into the Fairy Walks of Monsters and Chimeras.

And now those who had run farthest after these delusions, were the first that recovered themselves. For the next Species of Fiction, which took its name from its _novelty_, was of _Spanish_ invention.