and published it in his friend's name, without his knowledge. This is a fact, Mr Printer; therefore, I think, Mr W. should let alone Scotch writers."
Occasion was taken in the next day's publication to give a refutation of this pretended attack, in the following terms:
"Your correspondent, Sir, is pleased to appeal to a dead bookseller, I appeal to the living author, now in London. He desired the poem might be published: it was written for the public eye: he directed the bookseller to call on Mr W. for the copy. The bookseller produced his credentials, under the author's own hand, upon which Mr W. gave him the manuscript of the poem- It was afterwards published in the kindest way for the author's reputation, as a Fragment. I believe he will not choose to restore the passages, which were omitted in the first edition of 1760. When he does, the kindness, and perhaps the judgment of the editor will .appear, I am told, in a very strong and favourable light The poem was not published till the bookseller had received a second positive order for that purpose, from the author, after several objections to the publication had been transmitted to him in Germany, and amendments made by himself. It was a favourite child not without merit, although scarcely so much as the fond father imagined. Mr Churchill wrote the four following lines on that poem, which were never forgiven. They are in the Journey.
'Or con the pages of his gaping Day,
Where all his former fame was thrown away,
Where all but barren labour was forgot,
And the vain stiffness of a letter'd Scot.'Truth."
A week after, a letter signed "Nox," in the same tone with that signed "Truth," appeared in the Public Advertiser. It is impossible to doubt that Mr Wilkes was at the bottom of the whole plot, and either wrote the letters himself or employed his friend Churchill to do so.[1]
- ↑ This more particularly appears from the report of a conversation which took place on the 7th of April, between Dr Armstrong and Mr Wilkes, which appears to have been noted down on the same day by the latter, and was published in the Gentleman's Magazine, for 1792, thirteen years after the death of Dr Armstrong.
The incensed poet entered his former friend's lodgings, in Prince's Court, and, without the least, ceremonial or compliment, commenced the following dialogue—which, as a curious piece of literary history, we have given entire:—
Dr Armstrong. Did you, Sir, write the letters in the Public Advertiser?
Mr Wilkes. What letters do you mean, Doctor? There are many letters almost every day in the Public Advertiser.
Dr A. Sir, I mean the three letters about me, and Day, Day, Sir.
Mr W. You may ask the printer, Mr Woodfall. He has my orders to name me whenever he thinks it proper, as the author of every thing I write in his paper.
Dr A. I believe you wrote all those letters.
Mr W. What all three, Doctor? I am very roughly treated in one of them, in the first signed Dies.
Dr A. I believe you wrote that to bring on the controversy. I am almost sure of it.
Mr W. I hope you are truly informed in other things. I know better than to abuse myself in that manner, and I pity the author of such wretched stuff.
Dr A. Did you write the other letters, Sir?
Mr W. The proper person to inquire of, is Mr Woodfall. I will not answer interrogatories. My time would pass in a strange manner, if I was to answer every question which any gentleman chose to put to me about anonymous letters.
Dr A. Whoever has abused me, Sir, is a villain; and your endeavours, Sir, to set Scotland and England together are very bad.
Mr W. The Scots have done that thoroughly, Doctor, by their conduct here, particularly by their own nationality and the outrages of Lord Bute to so many English families. Whenever you think proper to call upon me in particular as a gentleman, you will find me most ready to answer the call.
Dr A. Dn Lord Bute! It had been better for Scotland he had never been born. He has done us infinite mischief.
Mr W. And us too; but I suppose we are not met for a dish of politics?
Dr A. No; but I wish there had been no union. I am sure England is the gainer by it,
Mr W. I will not make an essay on the advantages and disadvantages of the union.
