The Criticism, which I have made, upon _Horace_'s Narrative of his _Adventure_ with an _Impertinent Fellow_, I offer with Respect; And beg leave to observe that the chief Part which I object to, is the _Propriety_ of his introducing himself in so _ridiculous a Plight_; --Dum sudor ad imos Manaret Talos; And Demitto Auriculas, ut iniquae mentis Acellus Cum gravius dorso subiit onus. And other Representations of the same sort, seem to place _Horace_ in a very mean and ludicrous Light; which it is probable he never apprehended in the full Course of exposing his Companion;--Besides, the Conduct of his Adversary is in several Places, excessively, and, as it may be construed, _designedly_, insolent and contemptuous; and as no Merit or Importance belongs to this Person, there appears no Reason why _Horace_ should endure such Treatment; or, if the other was too _powerful_ for him, it is not an _Adventure_ of _Honour_; or what _Horace_ should chuse to expose to the World in this manner, with all the Particulars of his own despicable Distress. However, the _Mirth_ which results from this Narrative, as it now stands, is perhaps rather the stronger at first, by the full _Ridicule_ which lies against _Horace_, and his Adversary;--But, upon Reflection, there arises a Disgust, at the Impropriety of _Horace's_ exposing his own _Meanness_, as well as at the nauseous _Impudence_ of his Companion. As to _uncommon_ Words, if any such appear in this _Introduction_, or in the following _Essay_, I hope they want neither _Propriety_, _Clearness_, nor _Strength_;--And if the _Length_of this Piece to an _Essay_ so _short_ shall happen at first to _disturb_ any _Critic_, I beg leave to inform him, that all, which can be fairly collected from it, is only, that it may have cost _me_ the more Trouble;--But upon mentioning the _Length_ of this Piece, what behoves me the most, is, to return my Thanks to two _Gentlemen_, who suffered me to read to them the whole, as it was gradually written; And by whose _judicious_ and _friendly Instructions_ in the Course of it, my own _Imagination_ was often prevented from running into _Riots_. However, I am far from imagining, that I have always been reduced within just Bounds; And now feel a sufficient Share of _Concern_ and _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.