that one entire page of the original, for the crime of purloining which I am thus brought before the public, is verbally and literally as follows:

A bag

A nag
A bun

LESSON III.

a cap

a map

a nut a hut

a mat a hat

a spy a fly

A gun and that, except some short directions for reading, all the pages taken by me are of the same kind with this specimen, proceeding, as is the manner of primers and spelling-books, from words of one syllable to words of more, and from polysyllables to sentences of different lengths. I mention this, not to detract from the merits of Mr Robertson's performance, which is a very good one of the sort, but in order to show that reputation of anthorship could hardly be my motive for the theft. The truth and the whole truth of the transaction is this. About seven years ago, when Sunday-schools were first set up in Carlisle, I was desired to prepare some small tract, which might be put into the hands of the children and the masters. The point aimed at was, to afford as much instruction for as little money as possible. With this view, it was necessary to make one part answer the purpose of a spelling book, and the other to contain the elements of religious knowledge. I executed the office of a compiler in the first part, by marking out to the printer some pages of an anonymous spelling book, which had accidentally come into my hands as a present to one of my children. In the second part there is nothing of my own except a piece of four pages, entitled, A Short History of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. The rest is made up of portions of Scripture, selected by me, chiefly from the Gospels, an old tract of Lord Chief Justice Hale's, two prayers, two hymns of Dr Watts', a piece of Dr Stonehouse's, taken from the Society's tracts, and another of Mr Gilpin's. These two last named gentlemen have not complained, probably indeed continue ignorant of the injury that has been done to them. Should they come to know it, I am persuaded that, instead of resenting the liberty which I have taken with their pious writings, they will rejoice to find them made, in any shape, or by any hand, useful and accessible to the poor. My name as the compiler (for that is the word employed) was placed in the title page, because the bookseller refused to print the book without it; and it is placed there in the

manner, so far as I know, commonly adopted by clergymen, for I am conscious of no affectation upon that head.

Such was the birth of the little compilation which has produced this angry attack. A few months after it had been printed, Mr Faulder of Bond-Street asked my leave to put forth an edition of it in London. I told him that the first part was taken from a work, which, as I now understood, though I did not know it at the time, had been published by Mr Robertson of Marborough-street; and that he must apply to Mr Robertson for permission. Mr Faulder made his application, and was refused; and upon that refusal, by my positive injunction, desisted from his design. If it has been printed and sold in London, or any where else, except in this neighbourhood, since that time, it is entirely without my participation or knowledge.

Mr Robertson says, that the collection 'would not have answered my purpose, or been saleable, without the former part.' What purpose had I to be answered but that which is expressed in the title page, 'the use of the Sunday-schools in Carlisle?' I never gained a penny by the publication; so much otherwise, that I paid the publisher his full price for every copy that I gave away. I am at this moment ready to convey to Mr Robertson, or his assignee, my title, if he think I have any to the work, and all interest in it whatsoever.

Mr Robertson has not said that the sale of one copy of his book has been hindered by the appearance of mine. From the different quality of the articles I am convinced that no such effect can follow. His is a fair volume, a beautiful type, and a fine paper, adapted in all respects to the use of genteel boarding schools, and the nurseries of genteel families. Of all the low priced helps to education with which parish children and charity-schools were ever furnished, mine in these particulars is the meanest. The two books, therefore, are calculated for a totally different description of purchasers. They can never meet in the market; no person who would buy his book would be content with mine.

This is my defence; but a part of my story is yet untold. Not long after the little book was published, and soon as I knew Mr Robertson's sentiments about it, the substance of what I have here alleged was drawn up by me, in terms as respectful as I could frame them, and, being so drawn up, was communicated to him by a friend to us both. Although I did not believe that

I had injured his property, I was truly sorry that I had offended, and that also unknowingly, a gentleman with whom I possessed a slight degree of acquaintance, whose hard fortune in his profession I have often lamented, and whose literary merits entitle him to regard from every scholar. Mr Robertson ought not, therefore, to have said, that I have not condescended to make the least acknowledgment, or offer the least apology, for my plagiarism.' I did offer an apology, not indeed in print, which, I doubt not, is what he means, but by a mode of correspondence, which, in my judgment, much better became both the subject and the parties.

And this, Mr Urban, leads me to express my regret, that there should be one column in the Gentleman's Magazine which hath no employment more worthy of it than to convey to the public, what the public have no concern in, a beggarly dispute about a few pages of a spelling book, by the stealing of which, (for so let it be called), neither the plagiarist hath gained, nor the proprietor lost, a fraction of a farthing.

Yours, &c.

W. PALEY.*

ADVERTISEMENT PREFIXED TO THE SEPARATE PUBLICATION OF ARCHDEACON PALEY'S ESSAY UPON THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION.

[See Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy, Book vi. chap vii.]

WHAT has passed in Europe, under the immediate observation of this country, during the last four years, hath naturally drawn the thoughts of the reflecting part of the English community to the constitution of their government. The conduct also of some principal writers upon both sides of the question, hath tended to excite, not only the attention, but the passions of the public; and to force the subject upon the thoughts of multitudes, whose minds would, otherwise, have been very little

*An anonymous defence of Mr Paley, and two additional letters from Mr Robertson, appeared in the same volume of the Gentleman's Magazine, which it is not thought necessary to republish here.

disposed to entertain political speculations. I cannot however persuade myself, that the friends of public tranquillity have any thing to fear. The body of the British people appear to me to be satisfied with their condition; to be intent upon their various employments; and to be tasting the sweets of industry and order in the increased and increasing gains of almost every occupation. This state of the country is a strong security for its internal peace. Nevertheless, since these discussions are undoubtedly become very general, it is expedient, that whatever any one has to propose, should be proposed in a form fitted for general reading. This reason hath induced me to publish the following apology for the British Constitution in a separate pamphlet; as the work, from which it is taken, is hindered by its size and price, from finding its way into the hands of many who might receive advantage from the perusal. Some late notices of that work, much too honourable for me to repeat, have procured to it a degree of regard, which will probably obtain readers for this part of it. I trust also that it will be a recommendation of the principles here delivered, that they were not made for the times or the occasion; to serve any purpose or any party; that they were committed to writing ten years ago, and under circumstances, which, if they were known, would exclude all suspicion of insincerity or design. opinions I then formed, were formed upon the best considerations I was able to give to the subject of which I treated. Since the publication of the Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy, I have written nothing, and, to speak the truth, have thought little, upon political questions; for, interesting as they may seem to be, or are, my age, and still more my health and profession, have taught me that there are other studies, in comparison with which even these are unimportant.

Carlisle, June 29th, 1782.

The

W. P.