Sperate miferi, cavete felices. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOLUME FIRST. LONDON: Printed for J. DAVIES; T. SMITH; N. TAYLOR, and M,DCC,LXXXIII. ADVERTISEMENT. THE HERE are an hundred faults in this thing, and an hundred things might be faid, to prove them beauties. But it is needlefs. A book A book may be amusing, with numerous errors; or, it may be very dull, without a fingle abfurdity. The hero of this piece unites in himfelf the three greatest characters upon earth; he is a priest, an husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready to teach, and ready to obey; as fimple in affluence, and majestick in adverfity. In this age of opulence and refinement, whom can fuch a character please? Such as are fond of high life, will turn with difdain from the fimplicity of his country fire-fide. Such as mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in his harmless converfation; and fuch as have been taught to deride religion, will laugh at one whofe chief ftores of comfort are drawn from futurity. OLIVER GOLDSMITH. THE The defcription of the family of Wakefield; in which a kindred likeness prevails, as well of minds as of perfons. I WAS ever of opinion, that the honeft man who married, and brought up a large fami ly, did more service than he who continued single, and only talked of population. From this motive, I had scarce taken orders a year, before I began to think seriously of matrimony, chofe my wife as fhe did her wedding gown, not for a fine gloffy surface, but fuch qualities as would wear well. To do her juftice, fhe was a good-natu ́red notable woman; and as for breeding, there were few country ladies who at that time could fhow more. She could read any English book without much spelling; and for pickling, preferving, and cookery, none could excel her. She prided herself much alfo upon being an excellent contriver in houfe-keeping; yet, I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances. A 3 However, |