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the Romance be suppressed. Dr. Topham sent word that he was ready, on this condition, to "quit his pretensions." Certain members of the York Chapter told Sterne that this humorous recital of their disputes would never do. The Archbishop and the Dean were, to say truth, each handsomely complimented by the way; but the laugh was, after all, on them as well as on Dr. Topham; the publication, from any point of view, was, they thought, offensive to the dignity of the Church. Sterne heeded the advice of his brethren. With his assent, an official of the Cathedral bought up the copies remaining in the book-stalls and burned them with those still at the printer's. That was the current story thirty years after. But several copies must have been sold beyond recovery; and Sterne himself managed in some way to keep from the flames "three or four" other copies, which he guarded for the delight of his friends. It is perhaps one of these copies that is reprinted here.
Sterne cast his amusing narrative in the form of an allegory, having in mind Swift's Voyage to Lilliput. That seeming great things may appear as small as they really are, the diocese of York is cut down to a country parish, and Archbishop Gilbert is thereby reduced to the rank of a village parson. The late parson is Archbishop Hutton. The Dean, Dr. John Foun-
