 as any Man whatever. Adams, saluting the Stranger,
answered Barnabas, that he was very much obliged to him, that nothing could be
more convenient, for he had no other Business to the great City, and was
heartily desirous of returning with the young Man who was just recovered of his
Misfortune. He then snapt his Fingers (as was usual with him) and took two or
three turns about the Room in an Extasy. - And to induce the Bookseller to be as
expeditious as possible, as likewise to offer him a better Price for his
Commodity, he assured him, their meeting was extremely lucky to himself: for
that he had the most pressing Occasion for Money at that time, his own being
almost spent, and having a Friend then in the same Inn who was just recovered
from some Wounds he had received from Robbers, and was in a most indigent
Condition. »So that nothing,« says he, »could be so opportune, for the supplying
both our Necessities, as my making an immediate Bargain with you.«
    As soon as he had seated himself, the Stranger began in these Words, »Sir, I
do not care absolutely to deny engaging in what my Friend Mr. Barnabas
recommends: but Sermons are mere Drugs. The Trade is so vastly stocked with
them, that really unless they come out with the Name of Whitfield or Westley, or
some other such great Man, as a Bishop, or those sort of People, I don't care to
touch, unless now it was a Sermon preached on the 30th of January, or we could
say in the Title Page, published at the earnest Request of the Congregation, or
the Inhabitants: but truly for a dry Piece of Sermons, I had rather be excused;
especially as my Hands are so full at present. However, Sir, as Mr. Barnabas
mentioned them to me, I will, if you please, take the Manuscript with me to
Town, and send you my Opinion of it in a very short time.«
    »O,« said Adams, »if you desire it, I will read two or three Discourses as a
Specimen.« This Barnabas, who loved Sermons no better than a Grocer doth Figs,
immediately objected to, and advised Adams to let the Bookseller have his
Sermons; telling him, if he gave him a Direction, he might be certain of a
speedy Answer: Adding, he need not scruple trusting them in his Possession.
»No,« said the Bookseller, »if it was a Play that had been acted twenty Nights
together
