Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-05-20
MEMOIRS Of TOM JONES
Heard BY the Int Mr.. Cofguhoun from TIE lips of
.TiLar the B00hsplipr


.Niisar the Boohsellpr.
Fielding, having finished the manuscript of
F." Tom Jones'" and being at the time hard pressed
tor money, went with it TO one Of yaur second
rate booksellers, with view Of selling for what
It would fetch at the moment He left i with
tis trader in the children of other mems brains
and called upon him the succeeding morning. tni
OF anxiety, both to know at how Li.h rate hi,
abolrs were appre, lated, as will as hnw far lie
might calculate upon its producing lin where
withal to discharge deb OF some twenty pounds,
which he had promised 70 pay the next day lie
had reason to Ha.lnp. from the judsinen, If some
literary friends, to wi.nm he had shown his Ms
tnat il should at least produce twice that sun
But. alas s.hen the hnokseiler, with significant
~.ltug, showed 4 hes.sniion a. to publishing the
Work al all, even The moderate ct,,rctutiGns with
winch our Cersantes ha buoStl up ms hnpcs
seemed at TO Close mon h,n at iii, unpx.
pected aud distressing inimatnn. Aud wil
."u give me no means Of hope!' said he. ~
tone 1T despait. :" Very faint me-, ,nped .r,'
lrcriied the b0nkseIlef, Tor have scatcel, a0y
that the book III mage" Well sin answered
f'rlding """nr, must have fot it, aud hide IA,
thai ma, be, pray give me .nne idea D. what you
ran afford 10 give III, il - aWeiI SIR retntiicd on
b"oksellci. again Struggling up his shoulders. /
have read some part It ,onr ;. Junes,' and, III
justice To myself. must even think a@an before /
NOT 10 the pobl.c. nor do | think that an, induce
meni Can make me offer YOU more than ISL. for
IT," . Md that YOU ~iu give for it." said Field
my. anxiouslv and quickly. Really | must
think again, and will endca,or to make up my
mind BY TO morrow .'Well. sr,'' replied Field
ing. g will look in again Tomorrow morning.
The book is yours for the 25l. but they must pos
itisel, be laid out for me when call. am pres
,ed tor the money. and, If you decline, must 20
elsewhere with my manuscript" 81 will SIZE "ha:
can do,'' replied the BOOKSELLER and 50 the two
parted.
Our author, returning homewavd. fem his un-
promising visit, met his friend Thompson the poet.
and told him how the negotiation for the manu-
script hr had formerly shown him stood. The po.
ct, sensible of the extraordinary merit of his friends
production, reproachrd Fielding With lis head
strong bargain. crnjured him. if he coald do it
hon0rabl,, to conceal II. and promised m in that
event, 10 lind HIM purchaser whost purse wuuid
do more credit to his judgment. Fielding there
fore- posted away to his appointment the nest
morning, with rs much apprehension lest the book
seller should stick to his bargain he had felt tie
day before lest he should altogether decline it
10 his .teat 10y the ignorant traificer 10 lera-
turc. either f'um INABILITY to advance the mune, +,
or a want Of common discrimination. returned the
Ms. very safely INTO Fielding's hands. Our au-
thor set oil with a gay heart, to his friend Thomp-
SON. ana went in company with him to Mr. An
drew t'i!iar "a popular bookseller at that day. -
Nj. MiiIar was in the habit Of publishing No work
of Fight reang. but on his wife, approbation the
work was therefore left with him; ami some days
after. she having perused it. bid him by no means
let it slip through his fingers. Mlllar accordingly
invited the two friends to meet him at coffee house
IN the Strand, where, having disposed OF a gond
dinner and two BOTTLES of port, Thompson, at last
suggested. g ii would be as we'll if they proceed
ed 10 business Fielding, still with no iius
trepdation. arising from his recent rebuff in anoih
or quarter. asked Ml!ar what he had concluded
| upnn living for his work. " am a man. said
Millar. Of few words, and fond of coming to the
poiat but really. after giving every consideration
| am able to your novel. do not think can al.
| ford 10 give ynu more than tW0 handrsd pound.
! for it," - WHAT exclaimed Fielding "twt
Ihun,lrad pounds - /" ir,leeh MIR. Flelding,'' re
TUNED Mlar. " indeed ! am sensible OF Your tai
ent; but NV mind is made up 8. Two hun;ret
rounds - continued Fielding in a tone Of perfect
establishments, s'tw dundrcd pounds did you says'
+. Upon my wnvil sin a,ean no dlsparagement t.
the writer or his great merit: but my mind i,
made up, aEh cannct give one lartiing more!'
Is How me to AK yau," continued Fielding, witt
tandmnished sui prise. "alloW me AIR. NiIar
Ito ask you-wlether --vou- are--se- Tious Pr
|" Never more sn,'' replied Ai'a, .. in all nv life
and hope yon viii candidlv ac9uit me of ev
ery intention to iniure your t. ling.. or d-prec
ate your abilities, when repeat that Iositivel,
Icannot afford you more than tive hundred pounds
Tor YOUR novel; Then my good SIR sale
Fielding, recovering himself from this unexpected
stroke Of fortune, "sl,e me your hand the boob
lis yours. And wate,," continued he, biiug
couple of bottles Of your best port "
Before Milar died he had cleared e'ghtppn thou
sand pounds by " Tom JONES' ont Of which lie has
the generosity to make Fielding presents. at dit
ferent times, Of various sums till they amounted (,
two thousand pounds; and lie closed his life b,
lbequeathing handsome legacy to each Of Mr.
| E;adipoes sans