- ADVERTISEMENT Originally prefixed to the Prifon Thoughts. THE following Work, as the dates of the refpective parts evince, was begun by its unhappy Author in his apartments at Newgate, on the evening of the day fubfequent to his trial and conviction at Juftice-hall; and was finished, amidst various neceffary interruptions, in little more than the space of two months. Prefixed to the Manufcript is the enfuing Note: April 23, 1777. "I began thefe Thoughts merely from the impreffion of my mind, without plan, purpose, or motive, more than the "fituation and ftate of my foul. I continued them on a "thoughtful and regular plan; and I have been enabled "wonderfully-in a state, which in better days I fhould have "fuppofed would have deftroyed all power of reflection—to "bring them nearly to a conclufion. I dedicate them to "God, and the reflecting Serious among my fellow-creatures; and bless the Almighty to go through them, amidst the "terrors of this dire place, and the anguish of my aifcon "folate mind! "The Thinking will eafily pardon all inaccuracies, as I am "neither able nor willing to read over thefe melancholy lines "with a curious and critical eye! They are imperfect, but the "language of the heart; and, had I time and inclination, "might and fhould be improved. "But "W. D." The few little Pieces fubjoined to the Thoughts, and the Author's Laft Prayer, were found amongst his papers. Their evident connection with the Poem was the inducement for adding them to the Volume. ADVERTISEMENT. THE Work now offered a fourth time to the Public, was the laft performance of one who often afforded amufement and inftruction; who poffeffed the talents of pleafing in a high degree, whofe labours were devoted to advance the interests of Religion and Morality, and who, during the greater part of his life, was esteemed, beloved, and refpected, by all to whom he was known. Uuhappily for himself and his connections, the dictates of prudence were unattended to amidst the fashionable diffipation of the times. With many advantages both natural and acquired, and with the most flattering profpects before him, he, by an act of folly, to give it no worse a name, plunged himself from a fituation, in which he had every happiness to expect, into a state, which, to contemplate, muft fill the mind with aftonishment and horror. It was in fome of the most dreadful moments of his life, when the exercife of every faculty might be prefumed to be fufpended, that the prefent work was compofed a work which will be ever read with wonder, as exhibiting an extraordinary exertion of the mental powers in very unpropitious circumftances, and affording, at the fame time, a leffon worthy the moft attentive confideration of every one into whofe hands it may chance to fall. As the curiofity of the World will naturally follow the perfon whofe folitude and confinement produced the instruction to be derived from this performance, a fhort Account of the Life of the Author, is now prefixed. To enlarge on the merit of this Poem will be unneceffary. The feelings of every reader will eftimate and proportion its value. That it contains an awful admonition to the gay and diffipated, will be readily acknow ledged by every reflecting mind, efpecially when it is con fidered as the bitter fruit of those fashionable indulgences which brought difgrace and death upon its unhappy author, in fpite of learning and genius, accomplishments the most Captivating, and fervices the most important to mankind, |