NUMBER VIII.

ON NAMES AND TITLES.

All my ambition is, I own,

To profit and to please unknown.

“IT will never do"-exclaimed Mr. Lexicon, of Paternoster Row, to whom Scriblerus hurried with his manuscript, as soon as it was finished ،، It will create no interest without a name, nobody'll read it, I assure you."

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"And my fears suggest, sir, that my name would carry very little weight with it into the literary world," replied Scriblerus, " perhaps on the contrary, it might so far influence the generality of readers, as rather to retard than promote the circulation of my work for my reserve in society, and love of hearing, rather than of making myself heard, creates a prejudice not very favourable to my genius. In short, sir, from daring now and then to express a sentiment contrary to the general opinion, I am, to use the fashionable phrases of the day, quizzed, called blockhead, rallied, or dubbed pedant, just as it may suit the temper, or according to the eru

dition of those, whose judgment is formed on the report of Newspaper Editors, or partial Reviewers," so much for prejudice. "Partiality, on the other hand, by over-rating my slender abilities, and attributing that to genius, which is only the result of industry, research, and perseverance; cover me with confusion, and make me feel deficiencies, that otherwise I might not have been aware of. These, by a liberal encouragement, lead me on to strive against a herd of barbarous critics, however unequal to the combat ; and those, by endeavouring to depreciate me in the eyes of the world, by insinuations as base as they are uncharitable; if they do not inspire me with the contempt they deserve, at least they force me to bewail the inhumanity of their nature, in uniting their strength to attack a poor defenceless individual, who merely attempts to render an acceptable service to those who venerate truth and justice. And now, sir, you will at once see how injudicious it would be to affix my name to the title page of a work that has to fight its own way in the world; without the aid of critics, editors, or party. Some, who are aware of my scribbling propensity, have charged me with the folly of spoiling paper, and employing my time to no purpose; some have anticipated nothing but chagrin and disappointment as the result of my labours; and others have prophesied that, at all events, I shall gain little or no renown as an author, should that be my motive for writing

which they rather judge to be the case, as some people have a tolerable share of vanity and presumption! But subjects groped out from obscurity, and dressed up in a fine dashing style, are the only things to take now; and as they do not suspect mine to be the pen of a ready writer, in all probability my efforts will avail me nought.

"Now, under such circumstances, though they did not occur to me till pointed out by my friends, it would really be the height of folly and assurance to disclose the important secret, particularly as I've no pretensions to dash, or romance. Home-spun truth,' in plain simple narrative, is all I boast. Besides, sir," continued Scriblerus, "if you will but take the trouble to look over my manuscript, you will find that some of my subjects are too good, and others too bad, to admit of it. Not that there's any thing of an impious, seditious, or immoral tendency, but

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Perhaps it might have turned out more to your advantage if it had been so," interrupted the man of trade, with a significant motion of his head and

left eye.

"But," continued Scriblerus, without seeming to pay any attention to his insinuations, "I have certainly taken men and manners for my theme; and as my representations are drawn from life, many living characters are pourtrayed but those only whose features are the most striking, are placed in a conspicuous light. Individuals of a more common stamp may pass unheeded in the

group; if they do not, on beholding the likeness to themselves, call out, that's intended for me.”

"You do not possess the fears then of a painter I once knew, at all events," observed the man of letters," who, lest his representation should be taken for a temple, wrote under it, in capitals,

FARM.

"Nor did he, it seems, possess either the vanity or the assurance of more modern artists," retorted Scriblerus, "or he would have done his best to make the world believe that it was not only a temple, but the very temple of fame!"

"Ah! very good-very good," ejaculated the man of business, "but to return to our subject. Works of morality, I must allow, have been very little encouraged of late. Faith upon common report is now so generally adopted, that the public mind is completely infected by the contagion which spreads and bewilders the senses 'e're individuals are aware of its baleful influence. In fine, to come to the point at once " Opinions," said Mr. Lexicon, "as well as manners, have their fashions; and change almost with every generation! and you may rely upon it, that now, a name is every thing. The rage for novelty too is so great, that any thing new brought forward by a publisher of note, will not fail to bring the author's name into repute among the literati of the present day. For proof of my assertion, I need only refer you to the Morning Post of Monday last; which, after speaking in high

terms of the work itself, sagaciously remarks, in order to influence the public opinion, that

is the publisher, a circumstance which will of course go far to insure its success, independent of its own merits !”

“Take courage, friend, a person with your connexions may put your fears in your pocket; diffidence is an enemy to success; and timidity, take my word for it, is ill-adapted to the present times."

"As to connexions, sir," said the Knight of the Quill, raising himself an inch and a half above his natural stature ; "I should deem myself unworthy of them, did I not prefer adding one little sprig of laurel, to borrowing whole branches of renown from their venerable root. I disdain the obligation. No-Let me, with the independent spirit of a British Peer, whose colleagues left him in the lurch, rather advance alone and unprotected on my own ground, than fly under their banners for protection! And yet, sir, though so proudly brave, I cannot gain the confidence you recommend," continued he, "not but I readily admit, where literary fame is once established, the author need only be announced to call forth attention. But in the present instance it would serve but to satisfy the curiosity of some, and create a prejudice in others. With respect to my title, indeed, that might have some weight."

"Titles have had a wonderful run of late, to be sure," replied Mr. Lexicon, "but still there must be something to support them."

H