ceit at the Foot
of the Title Page of my Romance,--It would only set People on finding a
Page or two before I give them Leave;--and besides, all Attempts either
at Wit or Humour, in that Place, are a Forestalling of what slender
Entertainment of those Kinds are prepared within: Therefore I would have
it stand thus:

YORK: Printed in the Year 1759. (Price One Shilling.)

I know you will tell me, That it is set too high; and as a Proof, you
will say, That this last Reply to the Dean's Answer does consist of near
as many Pages as mine; and yet is all sold for Six-pence.--But mine, my
dear Friend, is quite a different Story:--It is a Web wrought out of my
own Brain, of twice the Fineness of this which he has spun out of his;
and besides, I maintain it, it is of a more curious Pattern, and could
not be afforded at the Price that his is sold at, by any honest Workman
in Great-Britain.

Moreover, Sir, you do not consider, That the Writer is interested in his
Story, and that it is his Business to set it a-going at any Price: And
indeed, from the Information of Persons conversant in Paper and Print, I
have very good Reason to believe, if he should sell every Pamphlet of
them, he would inevitably be a Great Loser by it, This I believe verily,
and am,

Dear Sir, Your obliged Friend and humble Servant, LAURENCE STERNE,
Sutton on the Forest, Jan. 20, 1759

To Dr. TOPHAM.

Sir,

Though the Reply to the Dean of York is not declared, in the Title-Page,
or elsewhere, to be wrote by you,--Yet I take that Point for granted;
and therefore beg Leave, in this public Manner, to write to you in
Behalf of myself; with Intent to set you right in two Points where I
stand concerned in this Affair; and which I find you have
misapprehended, and consequently (as I hope) misrepresented.

The First is, in respect of some Words, made use of in the Instrument,
signed by Dr. Herring, Mr. Berdmore and myself.--Namely, "to the best of
our Remembrance and Belief"; which Words you have caught hold of, as
implying some Abatement of our Certainty as to the Facts therein
attested. Whether it was so with the other two Gentlemen who signed that
Attestation with me, it is not for me to say; they are able to answer
for themselves, and I desire to do so for myself; and therefore I
declare to you, and to all Mankind, That the Words in the first
Paragraph, "to the best of our Remembrance and Belief", implied no Doubt
remaining upon my Mind, nor any Distrus