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PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
Reed, and, above all, my steady and indefatigable coadjutor Mr. Gough, who many years ago, speaking of a collection of Original Letters which I had communicated to him, says, “I shall stick as many of them as relate to Mr. Bowyer into his ‘Anecdotes.’ I most heartily wish you had the inclination to print a second edition, while you have opportunity to improve them by living information. I shall bequeath to you my interleaved copy—if you do not call for it sooner, and enlarge it with a second volume, to be intituled Anecdotes of J. N. and give the world two volumes of utile dulci.”
Mr. Gough closed his communications with the specific bequest[1] which he had promised, enriched by his own notes, and filled with the epistolary correspondence of many eminent persons, selected for the illustration of these “Anecdotes.”
Previously to the entering seriously on the task of re-publication, I threw out the following request for assistance, in the Gentleman’s Magazine.
“MR. URBAN, Jan. 14, 1802.
“As you frequently oblige your Correspondents by inserting their literary enquiries; permit an old Associate to announce, that he is committing to the press, after a consideration of twenty years, a new edition of the “Anecdotes of Mr. Bowyer;” the outlines of which first appeared in your volume XLVIII. pp. 409, 449, 513; and which, to say no more, was received by the publick with a flattering indulgence (vol. LII. pp. 348, 582); and had the approbation of Dr. Johnson (vol. LIV. p. 893).—
- ↑ See vol. VI. p. 330.
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