The Expedition of Humphry Clinker. T. Smollett
MY DEAREST LETTY,
To Mrs MARY JONES, at Brambleton-hall.
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon.
To Mrs GWILLIM, house-keeper at Brambleton-hall.
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. of Jesus college, Oxon.
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon.
To Mrs MARY JONES, at Brambleton-hall.
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS, at Gloucester.
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. of Jesus college, Oxon.
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. of Jesus college, Oxon.
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon.
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS, at Gloucester.
To Mrs JERMYN, at her house in Gloucester.
To Mrs MARY JONES, at Brambleton-hall.
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon.
To Mrs GWYLLIM, at Brambleton-hall.
To Mrs MARY JONES, at Brambleton-hall.
To Mr. HENRY DAVIS, Bookseller, in London.
ABERGAVENNY, Aug. 4.
RESPECTED SIR,
I have received your esteemed favour of the 13th ultimo, whereby it appeareth, that you have perused those same Letters, the which were delivered unto you by my friend, the reverend Mr. Hugo Behn; and I am pleased to find you think they may be printed with a good prospect of success; in as much as the objections you mention, I humbly conceive, are such as may be redargued, if not entirely removed—And, first, in the first place, as touching what prosecutions may arise from printing the private correspondence of persons still living, give me leave, with all due submission, to observe, that the Letters in question were not written and sent under the seal of secrecy; that they have no tendency to the mala fama, or prejudice of any person whatsoever; but rather to the information and edification of mankind: so that it becometh a sort of duty to promulgate them in usum publicum. Besides, I have consulted Mr. Davy Higgins, an eminent attorney of this place, who, after due inspection and consideration, declareth, That he doth not think the said Letters contain any matter which will be held actionable in the eye of the law. Finally, if you and I should come to a right understanding, I do declare in verbo sacerdotis, that, in case of any such prosecution, I will take the whole