the greatest Merit, never before printed. This Stock of Materials, which All will allow to be highly feafoned, thus carefully felected, and happily blended, we have ventured, with fome Degree of Propriety, to present to the Public, under the Name of The OXFORD SAUSAGE. Our principal Aim, has been to collect Poems of Humour and Burlefque. And in Conformity to this Intention, our Cuts, for which the most able Mafters have been engaged, are engraved in the fame Style. On these Confiderations, our SAUSAGE, we prefume, will not only gratify the Palate, but, if the old and approved Proverb, LAUGH AND BE FAT, be true, will at the fame Time contribute to make our Readers Thrive. All fuch Perfons, therefore, as are grown thin, by too much Study, Fafting, and low low Spirits, if they would improve their Constitution, and mend their Habit, are hereby invited to partake of this cheap, delicious, and falutary, Morfel. As to Readers of a more genial Complexion, and a more joycus Difpofition, we need not doubt of being favoured with their Company. In the mean Time it is declared, that we do not mean by our Title to exclude any particular Sect or Denomination of People. For Jews, as well as Chriftians, may feed on our SAUSAGE, without hurting their Confciences. In order to render the following Mifcellany complete, no Pains have been fpared in procuring Pieces, and no Refources have been left unexplored. That nothing might efcape us, we have even examined the indefatigable Dr. Rawlin fon's voluminous Collection of Manufcripts, A 3 fcripts lately prefented to the Bodleian Library. But, we must acknowledge, without Succefs; as not as not one poignant Ingredient was to be found in all that immenfe Heap of rare and invaluable Originals. Indeed, our chief Affiftance has been from fome curious and ingenious Members of the University of Oxford, who have made it their Bufinefs to preferve fuch fugitive Pieces, as were beft adapted to this Defign. Many Conjectures, we apprehend, will be formed, concerning the Collector of this Work. Some will probably fufpect him to be that whimsical Genius who com piled the COMPANION TO THE GUIDE; while Others will perhaps guefs him to be the fame with the well-bred and humourous Writer of the late TERRÆ FILIUS. But these fagacious Inveftigators will have found found out nothing, even if they fhould fucceed thus far in their Conjectures: as most unluckily the Author of thofe Pieces will never be known. Notwithstanding, whoever shall be so happy as to make this Difcovery, and will, on unquestionable Proof, deliver in the Collector's REAL Name, to Mr. JACKSON, Printer, in the High-street, Oxford, or to Mr. JAMES FLETCHER at the Oxford Theatre, in St. Paul's Church Yard, fhall receive, as a Reward for unriddling this Mystery, and on Condition that the Secret go no further, Twelve SAUSAGES, neatly bound, gilt, and lettered. It may be proper, in this Place, to advertise our Readers, that great Part of this Work was printed off, when we were fo unfortunate as to lose the facetious Mr. BENJAMIN TYRRELL, Cook, in the High Street, Street, Oxford. This fatal and unexpected It was intended, by Way of Frontif- CONTENTS. |