Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/252

 than this bookseller's; especially after his manifest falsehood, in his story of the nine months.

But let us inquire into the nature of the thing. Is it likely, or probable, that I should put the MS. into his hands, to be kept as long as he pleased, without any intimating that after a competent time for using it he should restore it again? They must certainly have an odd opinion of their readers, that expect to make such Stuff as this pass upon them for truth. Besides, it appears upon record that I took a journey soon after the lending of it: which was not a sudden and unexpected one: for the time of my residence had been fixed six months before. I must needs know then of my intended journey, when I lent the MS. to the bookseller: and 'tis very unlikely that I should omit to give him notice of it; unless it be supposed that I had then a private design to disappoint them of the use of the MS.

But that I had no such design, but on the contrary, a true intention and desire to give them full opportunity of using it, I conceive the very circumstances of the affair, besides my own declaration, which I here solemnly make, will put it out of all question. For