of the less
importance that I can add nothing to your ample list of
authorities, except to mention, if you are not already aware
of it, that there is a good deal about Dr. Dodd and his
doings, in "Chrysal, or the Adventures of a Guinea." The
contemporary characters which figure in the work are
described partly by real, and partly by invented
circumstances. But you at least get the view which the
author entertained of the persons he introduces on the
scene. I missed the first part of your Memoir of Dodd, in
the _Dublin Magazine_. The second I saw, and thought it
extremely interesting, and very happily written. I was
surprised at the quantity of information you had got
together. I cannot help you to any detailed account of the
Maccaroni preachers. They are glanced at in the second book
of Cowper's Task. They have existed, and will exist in every
generation, but it is seldom that any record is preserved of
them. They are the butterflies of the hour. There are no
means by which you can keep worthless men from making a
trade of religion, and as long as there are people simple
enough to be dupes, so long there will be impostors. It is
strange to see what transparent acting will impose upon
women. To be popular, to draw large audiences, is the avowed
object of many of these preachers. The late R. Montgomery
once introduced himself to an acquaintance of mine on the
platform at some religious meeting. Montgomery commenced the
conversation by the remark, "You have a chapel in the West
End." "Yes," said my friend. "And I hope to have one soon,"
replied M., "for I am satisfied that I have the faculty for
_adapting_ the Gospel to the _West End_." You may tell the
story if you give no names.

You have anticipated my Sterne anecdotes. I will just
mention one circumstance. In the advertisement to the
edition of Sterne's Works, in 10 vols. (1798), it is stated
(Vol. I, p. iv.) "that the letters numbered 129, 130 and
131, have not those proofs of authenticity which the others
possess." Now, letter 131 is very important, for it is that
in which Sterne replies to the remonstrances against the
freedoms in Tristram Shandy. It may be satisfactory to you
to know that some years after the edition of Sterne's Works
the letter was published by R