(or Dr) Bently, who stay'd at their Shop for't. I told the Messenger how little I had done (not in respect of the time I had it;) and desir'd him to tell the Library-keeper, That I would continue in making[1] all the haste I could [with it],[2] and care fully return him his MS. as soon as I had done with it. I cannot be positive whether or no[3] I forced the Messenger to come twice for't: but this I'm sure of, That I could have no rest, till I had sent back not only the MS.[4] but the printed Book,[4] and also the Variations[4] I had set down in convenient slips of Paper, but which I intended to transcribe before any body should see ym. I also sent this message along with them, That they would easily see how far I had[5] gone; I would make what haste I could with the rest:[4] and bid the Messenger be sure to bring me my Corrections again: all which he promis'd to do. But I never saw any of 'em since, and had forgotten the Book, had I not one day been told of the Complement the Publisher of ye foresd Epistles had given the Library-keeper for his Civility. This is all I know of this matter, but any one may easily suppose the Library-keeper was sufficiently acquainted, how far I had gone, seeing ye MS. and printed book, with ye Corrections on a sheet of paper folded in 16°. lengthways, put in [the][6] it,
- ↑ The words continue in have been crossed through; they have then been underlined, and a row of dots has been put below them. The ing of making has been crossed through, and the letter e has been put above it.
- ↑ The words with it have been deleted.
- ↑ The words or no have been inserted above the line.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The words in italics are underlined in the MS.
- ↑ The word had has been substituted for was.
- ↑ The word the has been deleted.
