Chapter I: Front Matter

[Picture: Book cover made from title page]

THE
FALL OF JERUSALEM;

A Poem.

IN THREE PARTS.

* * * * *

BY J. CHURCH, JUN.

* * * * *

“My God will cast them away because they did not hearken unto him,
and they
shall be wanderers among the nations.”—_Hosea_, c ix. v. 17.

* * * * *

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY R. O. WESTON,
CROSBY-ROW, SOUTHWARK.

1823

_Price Three Shillings_.

* * * * *

TO MRS. J. REVETT, OF BRANDESTON HALL, SUFFOLK.

* * * * *

DEAR MADAM,

THE particular kindness and regard with which you have ever honored our family, the liberality with which you have received my father’s works, and a knowledge of your native goodness, embolden me to sue for your patronage and attention to this my first (and probably the last) essay, which, though it has no claim to merit, may afford you a few moments amusement in your solitude; where, being surrounded by Nature, and free from the noise and bustle of the town, you have leisure to survey the wonders of Creation, and admire the incomprehensible power of the Creator;

“To look thro’ nature up to nature’s God;”

to look back at the revolutions of nations, and bless Him who has placed you in peace, and given you a longing for his heavenly rest.

It is customary with authors, either from the expectation of a fee, their knowledge of the weakness of those to whom they present their works, or some interested motives, to fill their dedications with the most ridiculous applause and fulsome adulation; but as I have no such motives or ideas, I shall not be under the painful necessity of saying any thing foreign to my heart, or drawing a blush from the cheek of injured sensibility, which, though conscious of superiority, must ever feel insulted when attacked by flattery.—Reposing therefore in your friendship, and generosity to protect the humble effort of a young author, I beg leave to subscribe myself,

Dear Madam,

Your most obliged and
very humble Servant,
J. CHURCH, JUN.

_Tabernacle House_,
_April_ 22_nd_, 1823.

TO THE READER.

COURTEOUS READER,

(I MUST begin in the old style.) In laying these sheets before a criticising public, the author has perhaps overstepped the bounds of decorum, and may be thought by some to impose upon the generosity of his friends—be it so—but, reader, you are aware that there is a spark of ambition in all; some to gain a name—some to rise in the state, and range at large the patriot and statesmen—some (far happier they) to rise in business, and retire to spend the remainder of their lives in a snug little box a few miles from town: but none of these will suit the author—his education is too confined ever to expect publicity, his disposition too peaceful for political exaltation, and his imagination too boundless to look for pleasure or contentment in a mercantile gradation. What then is his ambition? To please his friends—at whose request he has ventured to bring forth this Poem, for whose commendation his gratitude is ever flowing, to whose reproof his heart is always open; then frown not, reader, while perusing the following, nor smile when looking over the handful of subscribers;—there are as many as the author wishes for, who is proud to say, that out of all those whose names he has sued for, but two have refused him, and those only from peculiar circumstances; is not this sufficient excuse for his audacity,—enough to raise the vanity of a minor poet? But say you,—What does the author expect in return for his _courage_ and _condescension_? merely, that when preparing to read the Fall of Jerusalem, you will lay the poets on the shelf, and criticism on the fire—descend from sublimity to plain jingling, and fancy yourself in company with John Church, who is repeating the tale in his homely style for your entertainment; by these means you will perhaps be led on with the subject to the scene he attempts to describe, and find a portion of that satisfaction he ever feels in trusting to the generosity of his friends.

A young lady, whose name as a subscriber does me much honor, once observed (when speaking of this work), she expected it would be sublimity itself; if my friend meant it, I already tremble for my credit; but if sarcastically said, as no doubt it was, I shall feel delighted in hearing of her disappointment, and feel double pleasure in subscribing myself

THE AUTHOR.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Arnold, Mr.
Brown, Mr. R.
Bloodworth, Mr.
Bloodworth, Miss
Barns, Mrs.
Borrows, Mr.
Borrows, Mr. G.
Bonner, Mr.
Bonner, Mrs.
Bentley, Mr.
Brain, Mr. J.
Bayliss, Miss.
Bulman, Mr.
Church, Rev. J. 4 copies.
Clark, Mr.
Church, Miss.
Clark, Mr.
Crapley, Mr.
Cranbrook, Miss.
Cadman, Mr.
Candler, Mrs.
C. Mr.
Davis, Miss.
Don, Miss.
Darby, Mrs.
Elvin, Mr.
Elbro, Mrs.
Edmonds, Mr. H.
Farely, Miss.
Fielder, Mrs.
Francis, Miss.
Gower, Mr.
Greenland, Mr.
Granger, Mr.
Green, Mr. G.
Gittos, Mrs.
Greening, Mr.
Green, Mr. W.
Goddard, Miss.
Harriss, Miss.
Harriss, Miss J.
Hart, Mr.
Henderson, Miss E.
Hayes, Mr.
Hall, Mr.
Ingle, Mr. R.
Jenks, Mr.
Johnson, Mrs.
Johnson, Mr.
Kent, Miss.
Lamb, Mr. C.
Lamb, Mrs.
Latimer, Mr. T.
Latimer, Miss.
Lucas, Miss.
Locke, Mr.
London, Mrs.
Love, Miss.
Millington, Mrs.
Millington, Miss M.
Millington, Miss S.
Millington, Miss F.
Mannin, J. Esq.
Morris, Miss.
Miller, Miss E.
Mellers, Mr. H.
Moulton, Miss.
Napier, Mrs.
Newsome, Mr.
Osborne, Miss E.
Pattison, Mr.
Pratt, Mr.
Perrin, Mrs.
Painter, Mrs.
Revett, J. Esq.
Rayment, Mr. J.
Rumney, Miss.
Reed, Mrs.
Robertson, Mrs.
Smith, Miss.
Summers, Mr.
Smart, Miss.
Stevens, Mrs.
Sandell, Mr.
Simpson, Miss.
Stringer, Miss.
Trent, Mr.
Thorne, Miss.
Tyrer, Miss.
Westlake, Mr.
Weston, Mr. R. O. 2 copies,
Watts, Miss.
Warner, Mr.
Ward, Mrs.
Williams, Mrs.

* * * * *

From the continual call for this Poem’s publication, the Author has not had opportunity to attend to many of his friends, who, no doubt, would have become Subscribers; he therefore hopes they will not think him disrespectful, and should another edition be necessary, he will feel proud to insert their names, and convince them of his gratitude.