The other literary adventure was of a more extensive and important kind, in which the two honest gentlemen, above pourtrayed, bore only a part in common with many others. It is observed in our notes, that of all the literary undertakings in which our friend was concerned, this communicated the least complacent feelings on reflection. A considerable portion of certainly a curious and interesting publication was assigned to him, but he was limited to space, and confined to time. He was on no account to exceed a given number of pages, and he was compelled to produce these ready cut and dried, at a period specified. A writer of any taste, or learning, or genius, disdains fetters of every kind, and it may reasonably be questioned whether it is not, after all, the wisest policy to leave the author, at least, greater freedom in these particulars. Nobody was more sensible of this than our great moralist Johnson, who might, perhaps confiding in the weight and value of his name, and yielding to his constitutional indolence of temper, presume to require somewhat too much of indulgence. Yet when, on finishing the Lives of the Poets, he exclaimed, “Now a fig for Mr. Nichols,” although he loved Mr. Nichols, as indeed well he might, it may be fairly questioned, whether there was not a little inkling of tartness rising about the præcordia. The interest of publishers ought, without doubt, to have due consideration, and they, of course, are the most adequate judges how far this is obstructed or promoted by activity or delay on the part of authors. But it is a question not altogether unworthy of discussion, whether they sufficiently consult their true and real interests, if by vexatious importunity they intrude upon the sacred recesses of the scholar, gathering the produce of his vineyard in a crude and immature state, before a few more progressive suns shall have mellowed it to ripeness. An honest bookseller surely deserves an appropriate chapter. Let us then proceed to another, honest also, nobody will deny, but marked by many whimsical peculiarities of character. Acumen sæpe stomachosum, nonnunquam frigidum, interdum etiam facetum. CHAPTER XLIII. The professional character who next comes under review, is termed by the Sexagenarian, in his notes, the Queer Bookseller. By the way, our friend appears to have been irresolute in the usage of the term professional. It has been erased, and afterwards re-written, with a quere annexed. Whether it should be exclusively confined to the higher professions of the church, law, and medicine, may admit of doubt, but that some limitation is necessary, appears from the following anecdote.