I have only to add two Things:—First, That, at your Peril, you do not presume to alter or transpose one Word, nor rectify one false Spelling, nor so much as add or diminish one Comma or Tittle, in or to my _Romance:_—For if you do,—In case any of the Descendents of _Curl_ should think fit to invade my Copy-Right, and print it over again in my Teeth, I may not be able, in a Court of Justice, to swear strictly to my own Child, after you had _so large a Share_ in the begetting it. In the next Place, I do not approve of your _quaint Conceit_ at the Foot of the Title Page of my _Romance_,—It would only set People on finding a Page or two before I give them Leave;—and besides, all Attempts either at Wit or Humour, in that Place, are a Forestalling of what slender Entertainment of those Kinds are prepared within: Therefore I would have it stand thus: YORK: Printed in the Year 1759. (_Price One Shilling_.) I know you will tell me, That it is set too high; and as a Proof, you will say, That this last _Reply_ to the _Dean_’s _Answer_ does consist of near as many Pages as mine; and yet is all sold for Six-pence.—But mine, my dear Friend, is quite a _different Story:_—It is a Web wrought out of my own Brain, of twice the Fineness of this which he has spun out of his; and besides, I maintain it, it is of a more curious Pattern, and could not be afforded at the Price that his is sold at, by any _honest_ Workman in _Great-Britain_. Moreover, Sir, you do not consider, That the Writer is interested in his _Story_, and that it is his Business to set it a-going at _any Price:_ And indeed, from the Information of Persons conversant in Paper and Print, I have very good Reason to believe, if he should sell every Pamphlet of them, he would inevitably be a _Great Loser_ by it, This I believe verily, and am, _Dear Sir_, _Your obliged Friend_ _and humble Servant_, LAURENCE STERNE, Sutton on the Forest, Jan. 20, 1759 To Dr. TOPHAM. SIR, Though the _Reply_ to the _Dean_ of _York_ is not declared, in the _Title-Page_, or elsewhere, to be wrote by you,—Yet I take that Point for granted; and therefore beg Leave, in this public Manner, to write to you in Behalf of myself; with Intent to set you right in two Points where I stand concerned in this Affair; and which I find you have misapprehended, and consequently (as I hope) misrepresented.