Page:William Petty - Economic Writings (1899) vol 1.djvu/224

124 "I thought to have transcribd and enlargd this paper, but it happens yt a client is just now come in, and therefore I hope you will excuse this scroll from

Worthy Sr

Yr most obliged humble servt

Richd Cox."

In 1851 this letter, if General Larcom be not mistaken, was separated from the MS. to which it refers and inserted in another. It was reunited to the MS., however, before the sale of Dr Neligan's library.

Another MS., of which no further trace has been found, was once in the possession of Sir Peter Pett and by him was offered to Sir Joseph Williamson. The offer would argue Pett's ignorance of Williamson's probable connection with the book.

The Political Anatomy was first published in 1691. A second edition appeared in 1719, and the book was reprinted in 1769 and in 1861. The present reprint follows the first edition. The more significant divergences of the printed text from the Southwell MS. ('S') and all Petty's alterations of that MS. are indicated in the foot notes. On the relation of S. to the edition of 1691 see note 3 on page 131.