 separately, delivering
only one Book at a Time, (probably by Subscription). He was the first Inventor
of the Art which hath so long lain dormant, of publishing by Numbers, an Art now
brought to such Perfection, that even Dictionaries are divided and exhibited
piece-meal to the Public; nay, one Bookseller hath (to encourage Learning and
ease the Public) contrived to give them a Dictionary in this divided Manner for
only fifteen Shillings more than it would have cost entire.
    Virgil hath given us his Poem in twelve Books, an Argument of his Modesty;
for by that doubtless he would insinuate that he pretends to no more than half
the Merit of the Greek: for the same Reason, our Milton went originally no
farther than ten; 'till being puffed up by the Praise of his Friends, he put
himself on the same footing with the Roman Poet.
    I shall not however enter so deep into this Matter as some very learned
Criticks have done; who have with infinite Labour and acute Discernment
discovered what Books are proper for Embellishment, and what require Simplicity
only, particularly with regard to Similies, which I think are now generally
agreed to become any Book but the first.
    I will dismiss this Chapter with the following Observation: That it becomes
an Author generally to divide a Book, as it doth a Butcher to joint his Meat,
for such Assistance is of great Help to both the Reader and the Carver. And now
having indulged myself a little, I will endeavour to indulge the Curiosity of my
Reader, who is no doubt impatient to know what he will find in the subsequent
Chapters of this Book.
 

                                   Chapter II

    A surprizing Instance of Mr. Adams's short Memory, with the unfortunate
                    Consequences which it brought on Joseph.
 
Mr. Adams and Joseph were now ready to depart different ways, when an Accident
determined the former to return with his Friend, which Tow-wouse, Barnabas, and
the Bookseller had not been able to do. This Accident was, that those Sermons,
which the Parson was travelling to London to publish, were, O my good Reader,
left behind; what he had mistaken for them in the Saddle-Bags being no other
than three Shirts, a pair of Shoes, and some other Necessaries, which Mrs.
Adams, who thought her Husband would want Shirts more than Sermons on his
Journey, had carefully provided him.
    This Discovery was now luckily owing to the Presence of Joseph at the
opening the Saddle-Bags; who having heard his Friend say, he carried with him
nine Volumes of Sermons, and not being of that
