Page:A letter to the Rev. Richard Farmer.djvu/10

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Our late excellent friend, Dr. Johnon, ued to ay, that an author might be atisfied with the publick approbation, when his name was able to carry double. In this repect therefore this writer hould eem to have intended me a compliment, and as uch I accept it; though I have not vanity enough to uppoe that I can ukain uch a heap of rubbih as has been raked up, to furnih the number of pages neceary for the occaion.

I will not tain my paper by trancribing any part of the vulgar ribaldry with which this production abounds. Let it ret with the low ocieties among whom it has been picked up, and in the bookeller's warehoue, where, with other neglected trah, it will long remain in unditurbed repoe. But as two or three facts have been mentioned, which, however ditorted or dicoloured, have omething like the emblance, though nothing of the reality, of truth, I hall detain you for a hort time, olely with a view of obviating the effect which is ometimes produced by ilent contempt and unrefuted mirepreentation. Our inimitable