’Yes，’saidmyhost，sighing，’mynameissoandso，andIamtheauthorofsoandso；itismorethanprobablethatyouhaveheardbothofmynameandworks。Iwillnotdetainyoumuchlongerwithmyhistory；thenightisadvancing，andthestormappearstobeupontheincrease。Mylifesincetheperiodofmybecominganauthormaybesummedbrieflyasanalmostuninterruptedseriesofdoubts，anxieties，andtrepidations。Iseeclearlythatitisnotgoodtoloveanythingimmoderatelyinthisworld，butithasbeenmymisfortunetoloveimmoderatelyeverythingonwhichIhavesetmyheart。Thisisnotgood，Irepeat-butwhereistheremedy？
Theancientswerealwaysinthehabitofsaying，“Practisemoderation，“buttheancientsappeartohaveconsideredonlyoneportionofthesubject。Itisverypossibletopractisemoderationinsomethings，indrinkandthelike-torestraintheappetites-
butcanamanrestraintheaffectionsofhismind，andtellthem，sofaryoushallgo，andnofarther？Alas，no!forthemindisasubtleprinciple，andcannotbeconfined。Thewindsmaybeimprisoned；HomersaysthatOdysseuscarriedcertainwindsinhisship，confinedinleathernbags，butHomerneverspeaksofconfiningtheaffections。Itwerebutrightthatthosewhoexhortusagainstinordinateaffections，andsettingourheartstoomuchupontheworldanditsvanities，wouldtellushowtoavoiddoingso。
’IneedscarcelytellyouthatnosoonerdidIbecomeanauthorthanIgavemyselfupimmoderatelytomyvocation。Itbecamemyidol，and，asanecessaryconsequence，ithasprovedasourceofmiseryanddisquietudetome，insteadofpleasureandblessing。I
hadtroubleenoughinwritingmyfirstwork，andIwasnotlongindiscoveringthatitwasonethingtowriteastirringandspiritedaddresstoasetofcountyelectors，andanotherwidelydifferenttoproduceaworkatallcalculatedtomakeanimpressionuponthegreatworld。Ifelt，however，thatIwasinmypropersphere，andbydintofunwearieddiligenceandexertionIsucceededinevolvingfromthedepthsofmyagitatedbreastaworkwhich，thoughitdidnotexactlypleaseme，Ithoughtwouldservetomakeanexperimentuponthepublic；soIlaiditbeforethepublic，andthereceptionwhichitmetwithwasfarbeyondmywildestexpectations。Thepublicweredelightedwithit，butwhatweremyfeelings？