To my worthily honoured friend and patroness, Mrs. Alice Barret.

Madam,

So many already have assumed it as a privilege, that it is now become a current custom to prefix a dedication to someone, whose judgement and ingenuity may both grace the ambitious author and protect his weakness, otherwise you had escaped the trouble of being guardian to this brat, whose parent was unable to maintain it. To be plain, I have cast it at your door, neither better nor worse to expect its fate, yet with some confidence of a favourable reception, since your generosity and nobleness were ever wont to correspond with charity, whereof myself am sufficiently sensible. I beg your pardon for this offence, but cannot promise to do so no more. However I submit to your worthy self, whose intimate goodness and serenity have hitherto so far obliged me, that I must ever (as most due) subscribe myself (as really I am)

Madam,

Your most humbly devoted servant to command,

Tho. Thompson.