Madam,
When I first requested permission to dedicate thishumble effort to your Majesty, I felt—a feeling I confess which I hadno right to indulge—that I should be much disappointed if you werepleased to refuse me; but now that you have graciously condescendedto honour me by granting it, a fear of the unworthiness of my offeringdiminishes the gratification I should otherwise experience, and makesme almost envious of talents which might better have justified yourpatronage. Let others, however, excel me as much as they may inthose endowments which are supposed to constitute genius, I have atleast the comfort of reflecting that none can excel me in dutiful affectionto your Royal Person, in profound reverence for your character, andin respectful admiration of those virtues which have long endeared youto all British hearts, and will remain a monument of your goodnesswhen you shall have exchanged time for eternity.
More than this I dare not say, lest it should be imputed to a want ofdelicacy: less than this I will not say, certain that it would be consideredas an omission of duty.
I remain,
With the highest respect,
Madam,
Your Majesty's most dutiful, most humble,
And most devoted Servant,
J. A. SARGANT.
In laying this Play before the public some apology is perhapsdue. Sensible that it cannot compete with many of the productionsof the present day, the author yet pleads for such exemptiononly from severe criticism, as true humility, and a respectfor the opinions of an enlightened and intellectual age, may entitleher to. She has not aimed at any display of originality, norhas she been deceived by a presumptuous estimation of herpowers, to attempt that which she may not have more abilitythan leisure and opportunity to accomplish. Unlike those whowrite for amusement, or by profession, or in the consciousness oftheir talents, to gain for themselves competence or fame, her penis exercised only to soothe anxiety, to refresh exhausted energy,and to vary the monotony of seclusion. She would not, however,be thought indifferent to the praise or censure of her contemporaries.Far from it. No exertion, compatible with higherduties, would be thought too severe to obtain the former, nor anydegree of patient labour too lengthened to avoid the latter. Sheis, however, so circumstanced as to preclude such a dedication ofher time, and therefore is it that she ventures to ask for that indulgencewhich, in another case, she would have deemed it unjustifiableto claim or to expect.
But whilst all attempt at originality is disclaimed, imitation ofany one, or assistance from any one is equally disavowed. Thisplay was written before the late productions, which bear thesame title, made their appearance. Its defects therefore are itsown; its merits—if happily it possess any—are its own also;and standing thus entirely upon its native ground, it is respectfullysubmitted to the judgment of the public.
J. A. S.
Clapton Square,
May, 1840.