Page:Literary Anecdotes of the 18th Century - Vol 1.djvu/8

Rh Pringle, Dr. Richardson, Dr. Fothergill, and Mr. Costard) those thanks would come too late, which to the surviving contributors are nevertheless very cordially paid.

The life of a private tradesman, however distinguished as a scholar, cannot be expected to “abound in adventure ;” and in fact the Anecdotes of Mr. Bowyer are few, when compared to the many that are introduced of his learned friends. But the principal figure of the piece stands every where foremost on the canvass; and the other persons of whom anecdotes are occasionally introduced were connected with him by the ties of friendship or of business.

Some anachronisms have unavoidably arisen, from the work’s having been so long passing through the press: but these are obvious, and will readily be pardoned; as will also the variety of style which may be discerned throughout this performance. It was sometimes almost impossible to change the expressions in which my intelligence was received; nor was it always necessary. The volume may perhaps be not less amusing (I am sure it is more authentic) by being illustrated with the notes of my friendly correspondents, and very frequently by the genuine sentiments of the writers of whom memoirs are here exhibited.

Convinced that I am “walking upon ashes under which the fire is not extinguished ,” I have endea-