“But being press’d by Mr. _Sterne_ with an undeniable Proof, That he, (Dr. _Topham_) did propagate the said Story, (viz: _of a Promise from the Dean to Dr._ Topham _of the Dean and Chapter’s Commissaryship_)—Dr. _Topham_ did at last acknowledge it; adding, as his Reason or Excuse for so doing, That he apprehended (or Words to that Effect) he had a _Promise_ under the _Dean’s own Hand_, of the _Dean and Chapter’s Commissaryship_.” This I have attested, and what Weight the Sanction of an Oath will add to it, I am willing and ready to give. As for Mr. _Ricard_’s feeble Attestation, brought to shake the Credit of this firm and solemn one, I have nothing to say to it, as it is only an Attestation of Mr. _Ricard_’s Conjectures upon the Subject.—But this I can say, That I had the Honour to be at the Deanery with the learned Counsel, when Mr. _Ricard_ underwent that _most formidable_ Examination you speak of,—and I solemnly affirm, That he then said, He knew nothing at all about the Matter, one Way or the other; and the Reasons he gave for his utter Ignorance, were, first, That he was then so full of Concern, at the Difference which arose between two Gentlemen, both his Friends, that he did not attend to the Subject Matter of it,—and of which he declared again he knew nothing at all. And secondly, If he had understood it then, the Distance would have put it out of his Head by this Time. He has since scower’d his Memory, I ween; for now he says, That he apprehended the Dispute regarded something in the Dean’s Gift, as he could not _naturally_ suppose, &c. ’Tis certain, at the Deanery, he had _naturally_ no Suppositions in his Head about this Affair; so that I with this may not prove one of the After-Thoughts you speak of, and not so much a _natural_ as an _artificial_ Supposition of my good Friend’s. As for the _formidable_ Enquiry you represent him as undergoing,—let me intreat you to give me Credit in what I say upon it,—namely,—That it was as much the Reverse to every Idea that ever was couch’d under that Word, as Words can represent it to you. As for the learned Counsel and myself, who were in the Room all the Time, I do not remember that we, either of us, spoke ten Words. The Dean was the only one that ask’d Mr. _Ricard_ what he remembered about the Affair of the Sessions Dinner; which he did in the most Gentleman-like and candid Manner,—and with an Air of as much Calmness and seeming Indifference, as if he had been questioning him about the News in the last _Brussels Gazette_.