----I think it a very unreasonable demand--cried my great-grandfather, twisting up the paper, and throwing it upon the table. ----By this account, madam, you have but two thousand pounds fortune, and not a shilling more--and you insist upon having three hundred pounds a year jointure for it.------
--"Because," replied my great-grandmother, "you have little or no nose, Sir."--
Now before I venture to make use of the word _Nose_ a second time--to avoid all confusion in what will be said upon it, in this interesting part of my story, it may not be amiss to explain my own meaning, and define, with all possible exactness and precision, what I would willingly be understood to mean by the term: being of opinion, that 'tis owing to the negligence and perverseness of writers in despising this precaution, and to nothing else----that all the polemical writings in divinity are not as clear and demonstrative as those upon _a Will o' the Wisp_, or any other sound part of philosophy, and natural pursuit; in order to which, what have you to do, before you set out, unless you intend to go puzzling on to the day of judgment----but to give the world a good definition, and stand to it, of the main word you have most occasion for----changing it, Sir, as you would a guinea, into small coin? --which done--let the father of confusion puzzle you, if he can; or put a different idea either into your head, or your reader's head, if he knows how.
In books of strict morality and close reasoning, such as this I am engaged in--the neglect is inexcusable; and Heaven is witness, how the world has revenged itself upon me for leaving so many openings to equivocal strictures--and for depending so much as I have done, all along, upon the cleanliness of my readers' imaginations.

'I think it a very unreasonable demand,' cried my great-grandfather, twisting up the paper, and throwing it upon the table. 'By this account, madam, you have only two thousand pounds fortune - and yet you insist upon having three hundred pounds a year jointure after my death.'
'Because,' replied my great-grandmother, 'you have little or no nose, Sir.'
Now before I use the word Nose again - to avoid all confusion in this interesting part of my story, I shall define exactly what I mean by the term: being of the opinion that negligent writers who despise this precaution make themselves as clear as a Will o' the Wisp: in order to which, what you have to do, before you set out, unless you intend to go puzzling on to the day of judgment - but to give the world a good definition, and stand to it, of the main word you have most occasion for - changing it, Sir, as you would a guinea, into small coin? which done - let the father of confusion puzzle you, if he can; or put a different idea either into your head, or your reader's head, if he knows how.
In books of strict morality and close reasoning, such as this one, neglecting to make yourself clear is inexcusable; and Heaven is witness, how the world has revenged itself upon me for leaving so many openings to equivocal meanings - and for depending so much upon the cleanliness of my readers' imaginations.
