The Author is Night and Day at Work (in order to get published before the _Spaniards_ have raised the Siege of _Gibraltar_) a Treatise, entituled, _Truth brought to light, _or_ D--n _S----t_'s _Wilsden_ Prophecy unfolded_; being a full Explanation of a Prophetical Poem, called _Namby Pamby_, which, by most People, is taken for a Banter on an eminent Poet, now in _Ireland_; when in Fact, it is a true Narrative of the Siege of _Gibraltar_, the Defeat of the _Spaniards_, and Success of the _British_ Arms. The Author doubts not in this Attempt to give manifest Proof of his Abilities, and make it apparent to all Mankind, that he can see as clearly through a Milstone, as any other Person can through the best Optic _Martial_ or _Scarlet_ ever made; and that there is more in many Things, not taken Notice of, than the Generality of People are aware of. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NOTES TO _DUMPLING_ Pp. [ii].2-[iii].25. The information on Brand, Braund, and Marsh is confirmed by records in the Willesdon Public Library and by Lyson's _County of Middlesex_. P.2.30-31. Carey also attacks the Freemasons and Gormogons in _Poems_, ed. Wood, p. 118. P.5.3. Old Mr. Lawrence is mentioned several times (see particularly _Key_, pp. 16-17). There was a farmer Lawrence of 70 in Willesdon at the time, but I have found no direct connection with an antiquary, with Swift's Namby Pamby talk (see _OED_ under _Namby Pamby_) and his _Wilsden Prophecy_; nor with Jonathan Richardson (see note to _Key_, p. 17). On another level, the laziness attributed to Swift (_Key_, p. viii) and the gridiron here connected with the Kit Cat club are both commonly associated with Saint Lawrence. P.6.11-12. "Bull and Mouth" refers to a tavern known as the Boulogne Mouth (John Timbs, _Clubs and Club Life in London_ [London, 1872], p. 529). Pp.6.13-9.6. Knight of the Gridiron: Walpole was a member of the Kit Cat club, which originally met at the pie shop of Christopher Cat in Shire Lane. The "Second Edition" probably refers to the fact that the Order of the Bath was reintroduced for Walpole's benefit in June 1724. (See also _Key_, p. 19.) There is intentional confusion with Estcourt, who as providore of the Beefsteak club wore about his neck a small gridiron of silver and was made a Knight of Saint Lawrence. The Knights of the Toast were an associated group. The gridiron is a symbol both of gormandizing and of the roasting of Saint Lawrence. P.9.9. J[acob] T[onson], the publisher, founded the Kit Cat club which also met at Tonson's home in Barns Elms, and in Hampstead (which was only a few miles northeast of Willesdon). P.11.15-18. King John is reputed either to have been poisoned or to have died from overeating at Swineshead Abbey (18-19 October 1216).