ΤΟ GEORGE PHILIPS, ESQ. MANCHESTER. You must forgive me, my dear friend, for having gratified, without your participation, a wish which I have long entertained, to dedicate this volume to you. This, indeed, is the only part of the work on which your judgment has not been consulted. Within the circle of our acquaintance, no account of the motives for this dedication will be demanded to the public let me say, that it is a tribute due, on my part, to a long-tried and perfect friendship, cemented by the love of letters, and destined, I trust, never to admit interruption or decay. I am, most truly and faithfully your's, DAWSON-STREET, THE AUTHOR. August 16, 1798. CONTENTS. Chapter I. Probable origin of Sterne's ludicrous writings.-General account of the nature of the ludicrous-Why the sixteenth century produced many authors of this class Chapter II. Ludicrous writers, from whom Sterne probably took general ideas, or particular passages-Rabelais-Bero- Page. Chapter IV. Mr. Shandy's hypothesis of noses explained-Taliacotius-Stories of long noses-Coincidence between Vigneul- Marville and Lavater-Opinions of Gar- mann-Riolan-Beddoes-Segar's point of Chapter V. Uncle Toby's hobby-horse Chapter VI. Mr. Shandy's hypothesis |