Let me have good proof of your greediness to devour my labours, and I will dish up such a meal for you in my next volume, as shall go nigh to produce extermination by

    surfeit

   . One favour, alone, I crave—give me

    abuse

   enough; let no squeamish pretences of respect for my bookseller, or disguised qualms of apprehension for your own sacred persons, deter the

    natural

   inclination of your hearts. The slightest deviation from your

    usual course

   to independent writers—or one step towards commendation from your

    gang

   , might induce the public to believe I had

    abandoned my character

   , and become one of your

    honourable fraternity

   -the very

    suspicion of which

   would (to me) produce irretrievable ruin.

    Your masters

   , the

    trading brotherhood

 Prev. P 5/397 next