celebrated Author, _Habitum hujus Temporis habe_;
the Taste of the Town, you know, Sir, right or wrong, must be
comply'd with; without which, to hope for Success, is striving
against the Stream, and however great the Merit of this Piece may
be, it must be confess'd, in this Particular, it is defective; nor
does there appear a Probability of that Defect's being corrected;
and even then it wou'd be esteem'd but a Copy of Cato.

From the Author's great Candour and Impartiality, remarkably shewn
thro' the whole Tenour of his Letter, it is hop'd a few additional
Remarks will not give Offence. [Here ensues a lengthy passage of
detailed criticism, at the end of which the writer continues:] It
wou'd greatly trespass on yours and the Author's Time to enlarge
on this Subject, as Mr. Beard cannot give him any Encouragement to
make Alterations. Undoubtedly there are several good Scenes, and
much good Writing, which deserve their proper Encomiums; and the
Perusal may give much pleasure in the Closet, but does not bid
fair for equal Reception on the Stage.

I cannot dismiss this without clearing up a mistake which the
Author is run into; tho' urg'd with the utmost Tenderness and
Delicacy imaginable; I mean the Supposition that a Recommendation
from a Person of Figure in the Fashionable or the Letter'd World
is necessary for the having the Piece accepted. Be assur'd, Sir,
every Piece must be determin'd by its own intrinsic Worth; and by
that must stand or fall. Such a Recommendation undoubtedly wou'd
raise the Expectation and, consequently, engage a more particular
Attention of the Manager, but the Piece must speak for itself; and
shou'd it not answer Expectation, might probably not appear in so
good a Light as it might deserve, purely from the Disappointment.

I have the Honour, Sir, of sending Mr. Beard's Compliments to
yourself and the Author, with the Assurance that he wou'd with
greater Pleasure accept than refuse the Piece, stood it within the
Probability of Success. At the same Time, tho' unknown, I beg
leave, with great Deference, to subscribe myself,

Sir, Your's and the Author's
very obedient, humble Servant,

J. Stede.

There now follow the three surviving letters from Joshua Reynolds in
London to Thomas Morrison in Devon. Whether or not the two men had known
each other be