count to the public eye; who, as you were pleafed to fay, could not but be somewhat curious to learn fome well-authenticated particulars of a man, well known to have rifen from an obfcure origin to a degree of notice, and to a participation of the favor of the Public, in a particular line of bufinefs, I may without vanity fay, hitherto unprecedented. This will appear more confpicuous if you confider, that I was not only poor, but laboured under every other difadvantage; being a ftranger in London, and without friends, &c.

Ever willing to pay a becoming deference to the judgment of a perfon of your acknowledged merits, and whom I have the felicity of numbering among my firmeft friends, yet being less anxious to appear as an adventurer

among the numerous tribe of authors, than to continue a confiderable vender of the produce of their labours, I have continually delayed complying with your kind wishes.By the bye, does the publication of a Catalogue of Books entitle the compiler to the

name

name of Author? If it does, many Bookfellers have long had a claim to that distinction, by the annual publication of their Catalogues, and myself, as author of a very voluminous one every fix months. The reafon for my asking this question is, I last year obferved, that a certain bookfeller published his first Catalogue with this introduction:

"As this is the firft Catalogue ever the AUTHOR made, and is done in great hafte, he hopes inaccuracies will be treated with lenity."

But to return from this digreffion. I should probably have still delayed compiling my narrative, if the editors of a certain periodical publication, who monthly labor to be witty, had not deemed me of sufficient confequence to introduce into their work, what they are pleased to call a Portrait of me! and though it was by them intended as a caricatura, yet I am perfuaded it will appear to those who beft know me, as a daubing more characteristic of the heavy brush of a manufacturer of figns, than the delicate pencil

B 2

pencil of a true portrait-painter; and on that account I fhould moft certainly have confidered it as unworthy notice, had they not daubed me with falfe features. This at once determined my wavering refolution, and I am now fully refolved to minute down fuch particulars of my paffage through life, as, though not adorned with an elegance of ftyle, will, I affure you, poffefs what to you, I flatter myself, will be a greater recommendation, viz. a ftrict adherence to truth.

"To pomp or pathos I make no pretence,

"But range in the broad path of common sense,
"Nor ever burrow in the dark fublime."

And though no doubt you will meet with fome occurrences in which you may find caufe for cenfure, yet I hope others will prefent themselves, which your candour will induce you to commend.

"Difdain not then thefe trifles to attend,

"Nor fear to blame, ror ftudy to commend."

LORD HERVEY.

Should you be able to afford the whole

a patient perufal, and think the account

meriting

meriting the public eye, I fhall chearfully fubmit to your decifion, convinced that you will not,

"With mean complacence e'er betray your truft,
"Nor be fo civil as to prove unjust.”

John Dunton, a brother Bibliopole, long fince exhibited a whole volume of dulnefs, which he called his "Life and errors." The latter term I believe might be a very proper appendage to the title page of the innumerable lives which have been, and which will be published: For what man will dare to fay of himself, his life has not been loaded with errors? That mine has been fuch, I readily acknowledge; and fhould this narrative be published, many perhaps may deem that act another (poffibly the greatest) error. To thofe I fhall only obferve, that “to err is human, to forgive divine.".

As an additional ftimulus, I can affure you as an abfolute fact, that feveral gentlemen have at different periods (one very lately) intimated

B 3

intimated to me their intentions of engaging in the task, if I any longer declined it,

Of my first-mentioned kind Biographers I shall take my leave, with a couplet, many years fince written by an eminent poet, and not inapplicable to the prefent cafe,

"Let B-charge low Grub-Street on my quill,
"And write whate'er he please, except мY WILL.

And of you, for the prefent, after informing you, my next fhall contain a faithful account of particulars relative to the early part of my life, with affuring you that I am,

Dear Friend,

Your ever obliged.

LETTER