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The Miscellaneous Works of Tobias Smollett
The Miscellaneous Works of Tobias Smollett Author:Tobias George Smollett Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: TO MR. HENRY DAVIES, BOOKSELLER IN LONDON. Abeegavenny, Aug. 4. Respected Sir, I Have received your esteemed favor of the 13th ultimo, whereby it app... more »eareth, that you have perused those same letters, the which were delivered unto you by my friend the Reverend Mr. Hugo Bhen ; and I am pleased to find you think they may be printed with a good prospect of success: inasmuch as the objections you mention, I humbly conceive, are such as may be re-argued, if not entirely removed. And first, in the first place, as touching what prosecutions may arise from printing the private correspondence of persons still living, give me leave, with all due submission, to observe, that the letters in question were not written and sent under the seal of secresy; that they have no tendency to the mala fama or prejudice of any person whatsoever; but rather to the information and edification of mankind: so that it becometh a sort of duty to promulgate them in usum publicum. Besides, I have consulted Mr. Davy Higgins, an eminent attorney of this place, who, after due inspection and consideration, declareth, that he doth not think the said letters contain any matter which will be held actionable in the eye of the law. Finally, if you and I should come to a right understanding, I do declare in verba sacerdolis, that, in case of any such prosecution, I will take the whole upon my own shoulders, even quoad fine and imprisonment, though, I must confess, I should not care to undergo flagellation: Tarn ad turpitudinem guam ad amaritudinem pcence spectans.— Secondly, concerning the personal resentment of Mr. Justice Lismahago, I may say, non chapter{Section 443 TO MR. HENRY PAVIES. floctifacio. —I would not willingly vilipend any christian, if, peradventure, he deserveth that epithet: albeit, I am m...« less