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cation[1] will be least liked: it were better to contract it into a short sprightly Address.—I do not doubt of Mr. Crabbe's success.
I am, Sir, your most humble servant,
March 4, 1783. SAM: JOHNSON."
That I was fully satisfied, my Readers will do me the justice to believe; and I hope they will pardon me, if there should appear to them any impropriety in publishing the favourable opinion expressed in a private letter; they will judge and truly, that by so doing I wish to bespeak their good opinion, but have no design of extorting their applause: I would not hazard an appearance so ostentatious, to gratify my vanity, but I venture to do it, in compliance with my fears.
After these, was published the Newspaper: it had not the advantage of such previous criticism from my friends, nor perhaps so much of my own attention as I ought to have given to it, but the impression was disposed of, and I will not pay so little respect to the judgement of my Readers as, now to suppress, what they then approved.
Since the publication of this poem, more than twenty years have elapsed, and I am not without ap
- ↑ Neither of these were adopted; the Author had written, about that time, some verses to the memory of Lord Robert Manners, brother to the late Duke of Rutland; and these, by a junction, it is presumed, not forced or unnatural, form the concluding part of the Village.
