_Anticipation_ had a great run. Such was the popular demand that a “Fourth Edition” was advertised by Becket within a week of first publication. Five more London editions and a Dublin reprint appeared before the end of the year. As soon as copies reached America, _Anticipation_ was reprinted at both the British headquarters in New York and the American headquarters in Philadelphia. In announcing his New York reprint, James Rivington stated, with what degree of exaggeration the reader is free to guess, that “such was the reception given to this novel and immensely admired piece, that more than _Forty Thousand_ copies were disposed of in a few days.”[29] In London a rash of imitations broke out at once. _Altercation_, _Deliberation_, _Anticipation Continued_, _Anticipation for the Year MDCCLXXIX_, _The Exhibition, or a Second Anticipation_—all these appeared within a year. As late as 1812 appeared _Anticipation: or, The Prize Address; which will be delivered at the Opening of the New Drury Lane Theatre_, a squib inspired by the same circumstances that gave rise to the celebrated _Rejected Addresses_ of James and Horace Smith. And there were others. But, as Dr. Johnson remarked of _The Splendid Shilling_, “the merit of such performances begins and ends with the first author.”[30] There was another result of the publication of the satire that, to Tickell, was perhaps the most gratifying of all. The author was right, observed _The London Magazine_ in its review, in predicting a majority for Administration in his mimic debate; “and we verily believe he might have added by way of note at the end—‘This will get me a place or a pension.’”[31] This impertinence was justified by the event. On the 6th of December Richard Rigby, Paymaster and general factotum in North’s cabinet, wrote David Garrick a short but meaningful note: “I have had a meeting with _Anticipation_, and like him very much; I wish to have some further discourse with you upon that subject. Could you call here to-morrow morning about eleven?”[32] The subject was unquestionably a ministerial reward for services rendered. About this time Tickell was granted a pension of 200_l._ _per annum_.[33] Soon afterward an anonymous poet of the Batheaston circle returned good for evil in praising Tickell while attempting to recall him to virtue: