g the time of Mr
Walter's writing that Voyage, he visited me almost daily previous to
our marriage, and I have frequently heard him say how closely be had
been engaged in writing for some hours to prepare for his constant
attendance upon Lord Anson at six every morning for his approbation,
as his lordship overlooked every sheet that was written. At some
of those meetings Mr Robins assisted, as he was consulted in the
disposition of the drawings; and I also know that Mr Robins left
England (for he was sent to Bergen-op-Zoom,)[2] some months before the
publication of that book; and I have frequently seen Mr Walter correct
the proof sheets for the printer. You may perhaps wonder that Mr
Walter never took any steps to contradict the assertion; but that
wonder will cease when I tell you that for four years before his
death (which was in 1785) he laboured under very severe and painful
illnesses, and therefore never heard any thing but newspaper squibs,
which he looked upon with contempt. But as it now appears to be
published in a work that will be handed down to-posterity, that Mr
Walter was not the real author, I think it a duty incumbent upon me
to endeavour to clear his memory from any imputation of duplicity.
Nor can it be supposed that any man would write a book for another
to share the greatest part of the advantages. These and many other
reasons make me to apply to you, as I should suppose that, as a
relation to the deceased, you would be anxious for his fame, as well
as,

Sir,

Your most humble servant,

JANE WALTER."

_June 16th, 1789._

[Footnote 2: "Mr Robins," says Dr Wilson, "was invited over to assist
in the defence of Bergen-op-Zoom, then invested by the French; and
he did accordingly set out for that place; but it was entered by the
besiegers September 16, 1747, just after his arrival in the Dutch
army." This corresponds well with Mrs Walter's statement, and must
have its weight in the question.--E.]

"We shall make no other comment on this letter than to observe,
that it is highly worthy of attention. If it shall give such full
satisfaction to our readers as to convince them that Mr Walter was the
writer of the voyage in its present form, we shall rejoice in having
had an opportunity of doing justice to an injured character."

Such is all the information the Editor has been able to procure
on this subject; and he regrets that it is not adequate to what is
desirable for the determining it. He might