J^l ANECBOTE OT MR. MILLAR. June I, 



mentioned with fome degree of refpeft to Mr. Burns ; 

 fo that he refoived to wait upon him, without any per- 

 fon to introduce him. He went, — communicated his 

 bulinefs in few words, — was politely received, and in- 

 formed, that if he would truft the manufcript with him 

 for a few days, he (hould be able to give him an an- 

 fwer ; and, in the mean time, as he was from home, 

 he afked the author to dine with him each day, till 

 they fhould conclude about this bufinefs. Mr. Millar, who 

 did not depend upon his own judgment in cafes of this 

 fort, fent the manufcript to a young lawyef,^with 

 whom he ufually advifed in regard to law books. The 

 genljeman, after reading the performance, returned* it 

 to Mr. Millar, and informed him, that if he could pjar- 

 chafe the copy right for two hundred pounds, he would 

 certainly have a f^reat bargain ; for the book was ex- 

 tremely well written, and was much wanted ; fo that 

 the fale of it lOuR be very conliderable. 



Mr. Millar having receive-d this information, met 

 the author next day as ufual, and then aiked him what 

 price he demanded for his work ? The author, difpirit- 

 ed with the former otfer, faid he was at a lofs what to 

 afk ; for he had been already offered fuch a fmall price, 

 that rather than accept of any thing like it, he would 

 tlirow the papers into the fire. What was tliis offer ? 

 faid Mr. Mill v. Only twenty pounds, faid Mr. Burns, 

 with great iiigenuoafnefs. But, faid Mr. Millar, would 

 you think two hu?!.dred gi^ifieas too little ? Too little ! 

 fays Burns, in furpiiie; — no. Well th'cn, laid Mr. Millar, 

 the book fliall be mine, and you iliallhave the money 

 when you plcafe. The bargain was inftantly flruck, 

 and a bottle of good port was drank to the good luck 

 of it — Mr. Millar found no rcafon to repent of his 

 franknefs ; for the book fold amazingly well. Nor 

 had the author" any reafon to be diflfatisfied with hig 

 bargain ; for Mr. Millar, with a fpirit of candour an4 

 liberality, that does not always belong to men of his 

 j).rofefficn, frankly: fent a. hundred guineas to the au- 



