File:Siamese Tales (Brewer 1796).pdf

In offering these Tales to the Public, the author has been chiefly actuated by an ardent desire to promote the love of virtue through the medium of fiction. Certain it is, that the novelty of fable renders it the more interesting to youth, and more forcibly attracts their attention; the scene is therefore laid in a country where the manners of the people are curious, and but little known. Such intelligence as could be procured, has been carefully selected.—To mislead a young reader would be inexcusable.—The account of the kingdom of Siam is as correct as the relation of travellers will admit, and is divested of many improbabilities, which, however entertaining in the tales themselves, should not be found in an historical relation. To delight the young reader, and to instruct him, is the wish of the Author of the Siamese Tales, and his satisfaction will be compleat, if the intelligent parent, who may chance to peruse this little volume for the sake of his young family, should exclaim, "My dear children, this is a good book, and you may read it to advantage."

— Introduction