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Sperate miferi, cavete felices.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOLUME FIRST.

LONDON:

Printed for J. DAVIES; T. SMITH; N. TAYLOR, and
and W. THOMPSON.

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

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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

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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,

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