In this way Irving chose to introduce his satire to the world. The book was put to press in Philadelphia instead of in New York, in order the more easily to preserve its anonymous character. The pretence that it was a serious history was carried even into the dedication "To the New York Historical Society," and the work may really be described as a practical joke in book form. The volumes sold well, and, on the whole, were well received. Some members of the old Dutch families of the state saw in them a reflection upon their ancestors that they found it hard to overlook, and Irving himself describes their indignation against him. Mr. Pierre M. Irving tells us that he heard his uncle say that the avails of the first edition of _The History_ amounted to about three thousand dollars. A narrow folded plate, in the first volume, is entitled, "New Amsterdam (Now New-York) As it appeared about the year 1640, while under the Dutch Government". A legend beneath the engraving adds: "Copied from an ancient Etching of the same size, Published by Justus Danckers at Amsterdam". The view is often missing, being much sought after by print collectors. Duodecimo. COLLATION: _Two volumes._ Volume I: _xxiii, 268 pp._ Volume II: _1 l., 258 pp. Folded plate._ GEORGE GORDON BYRON, SIXTH BARON (1788-1824) 68. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. | A Romaunt. | By | Lord Byron | [Quotation] London: | Printed For John Murray, 32, Fleet-Street; | William Blackwood, Edinburgh; And John Cumming, Dublin. | By Thomas Davison, White-Friars. | 1812. Robert Charles Dallas, a "well-meaning, self-satisfied, dull, industrious man," Byron's friend, having read with enthusiasm "a new attempt in the Spenserian stanza," which Byron brought back from Italy with him, undertook to find a publisher for it. William Miller, who afterward sold out to John Murray, refused it on the ground that it contained "sceptical stanzas," and that it attacked Lord Elgin as a "plunderer." To this criticism Byron's reply is characteristic: "REDDISH'S HOTEL, July 30th, 1811.