The Rolliad, in Two Parts. George Ellis
EPIGRAMS.
NEW ABSTRACT. OF THE. BUDGET,. FOR 1784.
THEATRICAL INTELLIGENCE EXTRAORDINARY.
PART II.
A NEW BALLAD,. ENTITLED AND CALLED. BILLY EDEN,. OR, THE. RENEGADO SCOUT.
A NEW SONG,. ENTITLED. MASTER BILLY’S BUDGET;. OR,. A TOUCH ON THE TIMES.
JOURNAL. OF THE. RIGHT HON. HENRY DUNDAS.
ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FOURTH EDITION.
Three very large impressions of the following work being already sold, and the demand for it daily increasing, it is now a fourth time submitted to the Public, revised and corrected from the many literal errors, which, with every precaution, will too often deform a first edition; especially when circumstances render an early publication necessary.
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In the present edition some few alterations have been made, but none of any considerable magnitude; except that the Appendix of Miscellaneous Pieces is here suppressed. This has been done, in some degree, for the conveniency of binding this first part of the CRITICISMS ON THE ROLLIAD with the second; but more, indeed, in consequence of a design, which we at present entertain, of printing most of those pieces with other productions of the same Authors in one octavo volume, under the title of POLITICAL MISCELLANIES.
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As the bulk and matter of the book are thus diminished, the price also is proportionally reduced. Where the CRITICISMS seem to require any elucidation from the contents of the former Appendix, extracts are now given at the bottom of the page instead of the references in our former Editions.
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This slight change we flatter ourselves will not be disapproved by the Public; and we hope, that they will not receive with a less degree of favour the intimation here given of the Miscellaneous Volume, which will probably be published in the course of the ensuing winter.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The CRITICISMS ON THE ROLLIAD, in their original form, excited such a general curiosity, that three spurious editions have already been sold, independently of their publication in various of the Daily Papers, and Monthly Magazines. Such a marked testimony in their favour, cannot but be peculiarly flattering to us. We therefore thought it incumbent on us in return, to exert our utmost endeavours in rendering them, as far as our judgment will direct us, yet more worthy of that attention with which they have been honoured, imperfect as they fell from us, through a channel, that did not seem necessarily to demand any very great degree of precision.
In the present edition some few passages have been expunged; others softened; many enlarged; more corrected; and two whole numbers, with the greater part of a third, are altogether new. A poeticoprosaical Dedication to SIR LLOYD KENYON, now Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench, has also been added; and an Appendix is now given, consisting of Miscellaneous Pieces, to which the Criticisms incidentally refer.
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It may perhaps give offence to some very chastized judgments, that in this our authentic edition, we have subjoined notes on a professed commentary. Some short explanations, however, appeared occasionally necessary, more especially as the subjects of Political Wit in their very nature are fugitive and evanescent. We only fear that our illustrations have not been sufficiently frequent, as we have privately been asked to what “Mr. Hardinge’s Arithmetic” in the Dedication alluded; so little impression was made on the public by the learned Gentleman’s elaborate calculation of the Orations spoken, and the time expended in the discussion of the Westminster Scrutiny! Indeed, we have known persons even ignorant that Sir Lloyd Kenyon voted for his stables.
This Edition has further been ornamented with a Tree of the Genealogy, and the Arms, Motto, and Crest of the ROLLOS, now ROLLES; for an explanation of which we beg leave to refer the reader to page xiii. The Genealogy is likewise given at full length from the Morning Herald, where it was originally published, and was probably the foundation of the ROLLIAD. It is therefore inserted in its proper place, before the first extract from the Dedication to the Poem, which immediately preceded the first Numbers of the CRITICISMS.
EXPLANATION OF THE FRONTISPIECE AND TITLE-PAGE.
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The TITLE-PAGE exhibits the Arms, Motto, and Crest of the Family. The Arms are, Three French Rolls, Or, between two Rolls of Parchment, Proper, placed in form of a Cheveron on a Field Argent—The Motto is Jouez bien votre Róle, or, as we have sometimes seen it spelt—Rolle. The Crest, which has been lately changed by the present Mr. ROLLE, is a half-length of the Master of the Rolls, like a Lion demi-rampant with a Roll of Parchment instead of a Pheon’s Head between his Paws.
DEDICATION.