I was persuaded by a Friend to write some Copies of Verses and place 'em in the Frontispiece of this Poem, in Commendation of My self and my _Comment_, suppos'd to be compos'd by _AG. FT. LM. RW._ and so forth. _To their very worthy and honour'd Friend_ C. D. upon his admirable and useful _Comment_ on the History of _Tom Thumb_; but my Bookseller told me the Trick was so common, 'twou'd not answer. Then I propos'd a Dedication to my Lord _such an One_, or Sir _Thomas such an One_; but he told me the Stock to be rais'd on Dedications was so small now a Days, and the Discount to my Lord's Gentleman, _&c._ so high, that 'twou'd not be worth while; besides, says he, it is the Opinion of some Patrons, that a Dinner now and then, with, _Sir, I shall expect to see you sometimes_, is a suitable Reward for a publick Compliment in Print. But if, continues my Bookseller, you have a Mind it shou'd turn to Advantage, write Treason or Heresy, get censur'd by the Parliament or Convocation, and condemn'd to be burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman, and you can't fail having a Multitude of Readers, by the same Reason, _A notorious Rogue has such a Number of Followers to the Gallows_. _FINIS._ * * * * * * * * * [Illustration] THE MICROCOSM. by Gregory Griffin. No. XI. of the MICROCOSM. MONDAY, _February_ 12, 1787. Res gestae regumque, ducumque, et tristia bella, _Quo scribi possint numero, monstravit Homerus_.--HOR. By Homer taught, the modern poet sings, _In Epic strains, of heroes, wars, and Kings_.--FRANCIS. There are certain forms and etiquettes in life, which, though the neglect of them does not amount to the commission of a crime, or the violation of a duty, are yet so established by example, and sanctioned by custom, as to pass into Statutes, equally acknowledged by society, and almost equally binding to individuals, with the laws of the land, or the precepts of morality. A man guilty of breaking these, though he cannot be transported for a felon, or indicted for treasonable practices, is yet, in the High Court of Custom, branded as a flagrant offender against decorum, as notorious for an unprecedented infringement on propriety.