EDMOND MALONE, Esq.

MY DEAR SIR,

I need not tell

IN every narrative, whether historical or biographical, authenticity is of the utmost consequence. Of this I have ever been so firmly persuaded, that I inscribed a former work to that person who was the best judge of its truth. you I mean General Paoli; who, after his great, though unsuccessful, efforts to preserve the liberties of his country, has found an honourable asylum in Britain, where he has now lived many years. the object of Royal regard and private respect; and whom I cannot name without expressing my very grateful sense of the uniform kindness which he has been pleased to show me.

The friends of Dr. Johnson can best judge, from internal evidence, whether the numerous conversations which form the most valuable part of the ensuing pages, are correctly related. To them therefore I wish to appeal, for the accuracy of the portrait here exhibited to the world.

As one of those who were intimately acquainted with him, you have a title to this address. You have obligingly taken the trouble to peruse the original manuscript of this Tour, and can vouch for the strict fidelity of the present publication. Your literary alliance with our much-lamented friend, in consequence of having undertaken to render one of his labours more complete, by your edition of Shakespeare, a work which I am confident will not disappoint the expectations of the publick, gives you another claim. But I have a still more powerful inducement to prefix your name to this

Second Edition.-Headed "DEDICATION."

192

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 publickly testifying the sincere regard with which I am,

HE WAS OF AN ADMIRABLE PREGNANCY OF WIT, AND THAT PREG

NANCY MUCH IMPROVED BY CONTINUAL STUDY FROM HIS CHILDHOOD; BY WHICH HE HAD GOTTEN SUCH A PROMPTNESS IN EXPRESSING HIS MIND, THAT HIS EXTEMPORAL SPEECHES WERE LITTLE INFERIOUR TO HIS PREMEDITATED WRITINGS. MANY, NO DOUBT, HAD READ AS MUCH, AND PERHAPS MORE THAN HE; BUT SCARCE EVER ANY CONCOCTED HIS READING INTO JUDGMENT AS HE DID.

BAKER'S CHRONICLE.

VOL. IIT.

13

ADVERTISEMENT.

Second Edition.

BY correcting the errours of the press in the former edition, and some inaccuracies for which the author alone is answerable, and by supplying some additional nores, I have endeavoured to render this work. more deserving of the very high honour which the publick has been pleased to show it; the whole of the first impression having been sold in a few weeks.

London, 20th Dec. 1785.

J. B.

1 Mr. Boswell also made a change in his title-page, having the device engraved on

copper instead of on wood, in a more artistic and finished manner.