Salmagundi; or, The whim-whams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, esq. [pseud.] and others. By William Irving, James Kirke Paulding and Washington Irving. Printed from the original ed., with a preface and notes by Evert A. Duyckinck.

GENTLE READER. 169
tion. Gentle reader I-for we are convinced that none but gentle or genteel readers can relish our excellent productions-if
thou art in expectation cf being perfectly satisfied with what we
are about to say, thou mayest as well " whistle lillebullero,"
and skip quite over what follows; for never wight was more
disappointed than thou wilt be, most assuredly. But to the explanation: We care just as much about the public and its wise
conjectures, as we do about the man in the moon and his whimwhams; or the criticisms of the lady who sits majestically in her
elbow chair in the lobster; and who, belying her sex, as we are
credibly informed, never says anything worth listening to. We
have launched our bark, and we will steer to our destined port
with undeviating perseverance, fearless of being shipwrecked by
the way. Good-nature is our steersman, reason our ballast,
whim the breeze that wafts us along, and MORALITY our leading
star.
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