CHAP, in,] ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM LITERATURE.

" situation in life, I persuade myself they are unalterable with regard 1758.

" to your friends in it. I cannot think the world has taken such entire

" possession of that heart (once so susceptible of friendship), as not to

u have left a corner there for a friend or two ; but I flatter myself that

" even I have my place among the number. This I have a claim to

" from the similitude of our dispositions ; or, setting that aside, I can

u demand it as my right by the most equitable law in nature, I mean that

" of retaliation : for indeed you have more than your share in mine. I

" am a man of few professions, and yet this very instant I cannot avoid

" the painful apprehension that my present professions (which speak not

" half my feelings) should be considered only a pretest to cover a request,

" as I have a request to make. ISTo, my dear Ned, I know you are too

" generous to think so; and you know me too proud to stoop to

" mercenary insincerity. I have a request it is true to make ; but, as

" I know to whom I am a petitioner, I make it without diffidence or

" confusion. It is in short this, I am going to publish a book in

" London, entitled An Essay on the present State of Taste and

" Literature in Europe. Every work published here the printers in

" Ireland republish there, without giving the author the least con-

11 sideration for his copy. I would in this respect disappoint their

" avarice, and have all the additional advantages that may result from

a the sale of my performance there to myself. The book is now

" printing in London, and I have requested Dr. Radcliff., Mr. Lawder,

" Mr. Bryanton, my brother Mr. Henry Goldsmith, and brother-in-law

" Mr. Hodson, to circulate my proposals among their acquaintance.

" The same request I now make to you ; and have accordingly given

" directions to Mr. Bradley bookseller in Dame-street Dublin, to send

" you a hundred proposals. Whatever subscriptions pursuant to those

" proposals, you may receive, when collected, may be transmitted to

" Mr. Bradley, who will give a receipt for the money, and be aecount-

" able for the books. I shall not, by a paltry apology, excuse myself

" for putting you to this trouble. Were I not convinced that you

" found more pleasure in doing good-natured things, than uneasiness

" at being employed in them, I should not have singled you out on

" this occasion. It is probable you would comply with such a request,

" if it tended to the encouragement of any man of learning whatsoever;

" what then may not he expect who has claims of family and friend-

" ship to enforce his ?

" I am, dear Sir, your sincere

" Friend and humble servant,

" OLIVER GOLDSMITH." tioltito