Effusions of this description can never be generally interesting. The
parties should be known to each other in order to excite that pleasing
sympathy so soothing to friendship. As such, I shall freely forgive my
readers though they criticise my poetic talents. I can only say, Juba
applauded my little offering, and having a taste for recitation, has
frequently gratified me by repeating them, with a pathos which had an
excellent effect, according to my Donkey conception.
Shall I experience similar indulgence from my rational censors?
Alas! I tremble at the idea of what may be my fate: yet, surely, the
intentions of an author should have some weight with his readers, and
mine, I boldly declare, are humane. I know that every living thing
has feeling--that from man, who “walks erect and can contemplate the
heavens,” to the “beetle that we tread upon,” each can feel;--that the
great Disposer of the Universe hath placed his intelligent creatures
above all the other works of his mighty hand: he has invested you with
power, but that power must be tempered with mercy, or ye are no longer
the servants in whom he will be “well pleased.”
If you have laughed with me through some of the preceding pages, let
me hope you will not reject a brief admonition at the close of my
literary attempt:--I positively assert, that I am a patriotic Ass;
love my country, respect her laws, and take a lively interest in her
prosperity; and though I stand up in the defence of my own class, I
presume to think, the object I have in view does not, in the smallest
degree, implicate us as a body. We are willing to give you our labour,
submit to your guidance, and in all respects conduct ourselves as
faithful servants, and the only return we ask is _kindness_--the
simple offices of humanity. Would it were in my power to impart to
your species a small portion of that habitual patience with which we
are endowed! convinced as I am, that we more frequently suffer from
the hasty temper than the actual insensibility of our masters. To the
readers of my adventures I trust it will be sufficient to add,--that
should any dumb animal fall under their temporary displeasure, I hope
they will pause ere they deform themselves by cruelty, and bestow
a thought on one who, having “felt persecution,” conceived himself
qualified to implore mercy--one who, while he allows his fallibility as
an Ass, has no hesitation in declaring himself,