12 DEDICATION. I alledge; and that all my views and inquiries have led me to believe those miseries real, which I here attempt to display. But this is not the place to enter into an enquiry, whether the country be depopulating, or not; the discussion would take up much room; and I should prove myself, at best, an indiff erent politician, to tire the reader with a long preface when I want this unfatigued attention to a long po. em. In regretting the depopulation of the country, I en veigh against the increase of our luxuries; and here also I expect the shout of modern politicians against me. For twenty or thirty years past, it has been the fasbion to consider luxury as one of the greatest national advantages; and all the wisdom of antiquity, in that particular, as erroneous. Still, however, I must remain a professed ancient on that head; and continue to think those luxuries prejudicial to states by which so many vices are introduced, and so many kingdoms have been undone. Indeed so much has been poured out of late on the other side of the ques tion, that, merely for the sake of novelty and variety, one would sometimes wish to be in the right. I am, Dear sir, your sincere friend, and ardent admirer, OLIVER GOLDSMITH. |