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The Publishers of the present edition of Pamela are aware that many objections have been urged against works of this nature; they have been represented as a dangerous and improper mode of conveying instruction; as calculated to cherish a taste for light, unprofitable reading, and to inspire, particularly in the youthful mind, a false idea of human life.

These objections may certainly be brought with great propriety against most of the works which have been published under the name of Novels, Romances, &c. but there are some writers of this class against whom no such objections can be urged.

The Author of Pamela, as may be seen by the following brief sketch of his life, was a truly virtuous character; although it must be confessed that there are scenes introduced in the original edition of the work, which might offend the delicacy of some readers: this may be easily accounted for, by considering the time in which he lived; as it is evident that the present age has made considerable progress towards refinement in language and sentiment, though it is doubtful whether it has made equal advances towards purity of heart.