To William Jay,

Of Bedford, West-Chester,

ESQUIRE.

MY DEAR JAY,

An unbroken intimacy of four-and-twenty years may

justify the present use of your name. A man of

readier wit than myself, might, on such a subject,

find an opportunity of saying something clever,

concerning the exalted services of your father. No

weak testimony of mine, however, can add to a fame

that belongs already to posterity—And one like

myself, who has so long known the merits, and has so

often experienced the friendship of the son, can find

even better reasons for offering these Legends to

your notice.

Very truly and constantly,

Yours,

THE AUTHOR.