With all these extenuations, I am aware, that in publishing this, I do no service to _Yorick's_ character as a modest man; --but all men have their failings! and what lessens this still farther, and almost wipes it away, is this; that the word was struck through sometime afterwards (as appears from a different tint of the ink) with a line quite across it in this manner, [BRAVO]----as if he had retracted, or was ashamed of the opinion he had once entertained of it.
These short characters of his sermons were always written, excepting in this one instance, upon the first leaf of his sermon, which served as a cover to it; and usually upon the inside of it, which was turned towards the text; --but at the end of his discourse, where, perhaps, he had five or six pages, and sometimes, perhaps, a whole score to turn himself in, --he took a large circuit, and, indeed, a much more mettlesome one; --as if he had snatched the occasion of unlacing himself with a few more frolicksome strokes at vice, than the straitness of the pulpit allowed. --These, though hussar-like, they skirmish lightly and out of all order, are still auxiliaries on the side of virtue; --tell me then, Mynheer Vander Blonederdondergewdenstronke, why they should not be printed together?
Nonetheless, I am aware that in publishing this, I do no service to Yorick's character as a modest man; but all men have their failings! and what wipes this one almost away, is that the word was struck through sometime afterwards in a different tint - as if he was ashamed of the opinion he once held of it.