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THE

COUNTRY MINISTER,

A POEM,

IN SEVEN CANTOS:

CONTAINING

The First and Second Parts

OF

THE ORIGINAL WORK,

with

ADDITIONAL POEMS AND NOTES.

A Second Edition.

BY J. BRETTELL.

-semita certè

Tranquillæ per virtutem patet unica vitæ,

Juv, SAT. X. v. 363-4.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER,

AVE MARIA LANE;

And may be had of all other Booksellers.

1827.

BODLEIAN

23.5.1900

IBRARY

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONORABLE

LORD VISCOUNT MILTON.

MY LORD,

CONVINCED that the illustrious House to which you belong, and the distinguished name you bear, could derive no additional honor from any thing I might say in the dedication of this poem to your Lordship, I can only express my hope, that it will be found to contain no sentiment which shall render it unworthy of the noble patron, under whose kind auspices it is ushered into the world.

I have now, my Lord,

The honor to subscribe myself,

With sincere gratitude and respect,

Your Lordship's

Much obliged and humble servant,

Rotherham, July 12th, 1821.

J. BRETTELL,

PREFACE

TO THE FIRST PART OF THE COUNTRY MINISTER.

SOME apology is due, from the Author of this little volume, to the public, for departing, in the execution of his poem, from his original plan, as stated in his published proposals.

It was his first design to have described the evils of poverty, as connected with the Ministerial Profession -as affecting its happiness and usefulness. On the annunciation of this design to some of his friends, (for whose judgement he entertains the greatest respect) they objected to the subject, as being in itself too gloomy, and represented the difficulties connected with it in so strong a light, as to induce him at last to abandon it.

Should the COUNTRY MINISTER Whom he now introduces to the public (since he is at least a more cheerful and social being than the author had, at first, intended to describe) be so fortunate as to meet with a favourable reception, it is his intention, at some future period, to continue the history of his life-should his own be spared.

The poem has been written in the short intervals which the author could snatch from the more important duties of his profession-amidst a world of other business and other cares. This is not mentioned as any apology for the want of talent that may be found in the conception or execution of it: but as, in some measure, accounting for the many months that have expired between the annunciation and the publication of it.

The author is well aware that, like all other works, this must rise or fall by its own internal merits or defects. Under the strong impression of this conviction, and the trembling consciousness of his own incompetency to sustain the character of a Poet, he may, perhaps, be allowed to regret the circumstances that induced him to write in verse, inthe language of one of its most successful and distinguished masters:

"je serois heureux, si, pour me consumer, Un destin envieux ne m'avoit fait rimer.”

He, at the same time, hopes, that a first attempt will meet with some indulgence from the public, and that those, for whose perusal these observations are chiefly inserted (his friends and subscribers,) will deem them a sufficient apology for any alteration in the design, or delay in the execution, of the work.

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