To the Right Honourable Mr.¬†Pitt + 

Sir,вБ†вАФNever poor Wight of a Dedicator had less hopes from his Dedication, than I have from this of mine; for it is written in a bye corner of the kingdom, and in a retirвАЩd thatchвАЩd house, where I live in a constant endeavour to fence against the infirmities of ill health, and other evils of life, by mirth; being firmly persuaded that every time a man smiles,вБ†вЄЇвБ†but much more so, when he laughs, it adds something to this Fragment of Life. + 

I humbly beg, Sir, that you will honour this book, by taking itвБ†вЄЇ(not under your Protection,вБ†вЄЇвБ†it must protect itself, but)вБ†вЄЇвБ†into the country with you; where, if I am ever told, it has made you smile; or can conceive it has beguiled you of one momentвАЩs painвБ†вЄЇвБ†I shall think myself as happy as a minister of state;вБ†вЄїperhaps much happier than anyone (one only excepted) that I have read or heard of. + 