~ l-j^l. T^imothy Hairbrain. 85 



of their pockets, into those of the writer, in great 

 abundance, to hii no small emolument and satisfac- 

 tion. 



But a wonder lasts only nine days. As the novel- 

 ty of these doctrines wore off, the people began to 

 neglect them, and the sale of these writings had 

 greatly abated ; so that poor Tom was likely to be 

 obliged to wheel to the right about, and seek out ano- 

 ther country for vending his wares in ; whfen, lo ! a 

 band of heroes, armed at all points, ruflied out in his 

 support. I say in his support ; though, in imitation 

 of the pickpockets of London, they found it would 

 best answer their purpose to make a mock attack 

 upon him, in order that they might thus be able the 

 more effectually to serve him. They beheld wita 

 seeming regret, it would appear, that Tom's writings 

 began to pall upon the people, and to lie upon the 

 booksellers fhelves. And knowing that John Bull is 

 a headstrong kind of a beast, who may be led, but 

 cannot be easily driven, they, therefore, instead of 

 an advertisement recommending the book, publifhed 

 z proclamation PROHIBITING the sale of such writings* 

 The effect was, what they had no doubt foreseen. 

 The sale was instantly augmented a thousand fold*. 



• Perhaps there may be a Ilctk exaggtration here. I know that In a 

 ,ma!l town in the north of Scotland, before the proclamation, there waa 

 jutt ant copy of Payne'i pamphlet; and the bookseller of the place c}e- 

 elareJ three weeks ago, that he had, since then, sold seven hundred and 

 fifty copies of it. And a bookseller in Edinburgh told me that he had, 

 before the proclamation, a good many cop'.es of it that lay so long on hia 

 hand, that he would gladly have sild them all at two Ihillings a crpy. 

 Ho has j>nce sold the whole of these, and roiny more, at three ftillliiiga 

 and sixpence each. Edit. 



