Autograph letter signed : London, to William Cowper, 1782 Feb. 18.

Advising him against publishing John Newton's introduction to Cowper's Poems, and discussing proof corrections to the volume. " ... it appears to me wrong to insert a preface which has a direct tendency to prevent readers of very different sentiments from the writer of it from turning over a single page, and which infalibly [sic] prejudice the critics against the work before they have read a line, and their judgment has no small influence on the success of poetical composition. Those who are acquainted with Mr. N's genius and worth and are of his sentiments [will] indeed be disposed to read and be benefited, but I do not think this a sufficient motive for giving up the public at large... "