vertised at a great rate and for a long time, but to the infinite mortification of our author, not one hundred copies were fold, not even enough indeed to pay for the advertisements. In the preceding instance I am perfuaded the publisher did his best to promote the fale of the work; but in general where authors keep their own copy-right they do not fucceed, and many books have been configned to oblivion, through the inattention and mismanagement of publishers, as most of them are envious of the fuccefs of fuch works as do not turn to their own account; very many juft complaints are made on this head, fo that I am fully of opinion that for authors to fucceed well they should fell their copy-rights, or be previously well acquainted with the characters of their publishers. As I have before obferved, there are fome authors who become their own publishers, but that mode will feldom or never anfwer, as fifty to one might be fold by being expofed pofed to view, and recommended in bookfellers fhops, where ladies and gentlemen are continually calling to purchase fome books, and to turn over others, and often by dipping into publications are led to purchase fuch as they had no intention to buy. But authors should be reminded that there are many who would not go to private houses to look over books when they are not certain to purchase, and where, if they do purchase, they are to take them home in their pockets, or be at the trouble of fending for them, which is not the cafe when they purchase at a bookfeller's fhop. And all authors should be fure to give the full allowance to the trade, or their works can never have a great fale, as no book feller can reasonably be expected to promote the fale of a work in which he is abridged of his usual profits, and the more liberality authors exercise towards the trade, the greater will be their profits in the end. For it is inconceivable what mifchief bookfellers can and often will do to authors, as thoufands of books are yearly written for to London that are never fent; and in thefe cafes many plausible reafons are affigned by them for fuch omiffions, and in such cases, what redress can an author have for fo effential an injury? I am, Dear Friend, Yours. LETTER LETTER XXXVI. "Those who would learning's glorious kingdom find, "Oh! what an ocean must be voyaged o'er, POMFRET. DEAR FRIEND, ALTHOUGH the refult of the plan which I adopted for reducing the price of books, as mentioned in my last, was a vast increase of purchasers, yet at the fame time I found a prodigious accumulation of my expences; which will not appear strange, when I inform you that I made pro proportionably large purchases, fuch as two hundred copies of one book, three hundred of another, five hundred of a third, a thoufand of a fourth, two thousand of a fifth, nay, fometimes I have purchased fix thoufand copies of one book, and at one time I actually had no lefs than TEN THOUSAND COPIES of Watts's Pfalms, and the fame number of his Hymns in my poffeffion. In addition to thefe, I purchased very large numbers of many thousand different articles, at trade fales of all forts, as bankrupt fales, fales of fuch as had retired from bufiness, others caufed by the death of booksellers, fales to reduce large stocks, annual fales, &c. that you may form fome idea, I must inform you that at one of the above fales, I have purchased books to the amount of five thoufand pounds in one afternoon. Not to mention those purchased of authors, and town and country bookfellers, by private contract, &c. to a very confiderable amount. My expences were also exceedingly increased by the neceffity I was under of keeping each article in a variety |