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ance with our much lamented friend, in consequence of
having undertaken to render one of his labours more
complete, by your edition of Shakspeare, a work which
I am confident will not disappoint the expectation of
the public, gives you another claim. But I have a still
more powerful inducement to prefix your name to this
volume, as it gives me an opportunity of letting the
world know that I enjoy the honour and happiness of
your friendship; and of thus publicly testifying the
sincere regard with which I am, my dear Sir, your
very faithful and obedient servant,

"JAMES BOSWELL."

To the third edition, published in August 1786,
Mr. Boswell prefixed the following Advertisement:-

"Animated by the very favourable reception which
two large impressions of this work have had, it has been
my study to make it as perfect as I could in this edition,
by correcting some inaccuracies which I discovered
myself, and some which the kindness of friends or the
scrutiny of adversaries pointed out. A few notes are
added, of which the principal object is, to refute mis-
representation and calumny.

"To the animadversions in the periodical journals
of criticism, and in the numerous publications to which
my book has given rise, I have made no answer. Every
work must stand or fall by its own merit. I cannot,
however, omit this opportunity of returning thanks to a
gentleman who published a 'Defence'(1) of my Journal,

(1) ["A Defence of Mr. Boswell's Journal, in a Letter to
the Author of the Remarks, &c." 1786.]

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