To thee, my beloved Father, I dedicated my first, and to thee I also dedicate my present, work ;-with the pleasing conviction that thou art disposed to form a favourable judgment of any production, however humble, which has a tendency to promote the moral and religious welfare of mankind. AMELIA OPIE. PREFACE. 1. AM aware that a preface must be short, if its author aspires to have it read. Ishall therefore content myself with making a very few preliminary observations, which I wish to be considered as apologies. My first apology is, for having throughout my book made use of the words lying and lies, instead of some gentler term, or some easy paraphrase, by which I might have avoided the risk of offending the delicacy of any of my readers. Our great satirist speaks of a Dean who was a favourite at the church where he officiated, because and "He never mentioned hell to ears polite,-" fear that to ears polite," my coarseness, in uniformly calling lying and lie by their real names, may sometimes be offensive. But, when writing a book against lying, I was oblig ed to express my meaning in the manner most consonant to the strict truth; nor could I employ any words with such propriety as those hallowed and sanctioned for use, on such an occasion, by the practice of inspired, and holy men of old. Moreover, I believe that those who accustom themselves to call lying and lie by a softening appellation, are in danger of weakening their aversion to the fault itself. My second apology is, for presuming to come forward, with such apparent boldness, as a didactic writ |