Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The History of Birmingham
A preface generally induces a man to speak of himself, which is deemed the worst sub ject upon which he can speak. In a History we become acquainted with things, but in a Preface with the author; and, for a man to treat of himself, may be the most difficult task of the two; for in history, facts are produced ready to the hand of the Historian, which give birth to thought, and it is easy to clothe that thought in words: but in a Preface, an author is obliged to forge from the brain, where he is sometimes known to forge without fire. In one case he only reduces a substance into form but in the other, he must create that substance.
As I am not an author by profession, it is no wonder if I am unacquainted with the modes of authorship but I apprehend, the usual method of conducting the pen, is to polish up a sound ing title-page, dignified with scraps of Latin, and then to hammer up a work to fit it, as nearly as genius, or want of genius; will allow.
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