ive (title page and page v,
though left on page viii) probably to avoid implying that Nature is in
the foundation only.

From the first, Richardson's disguise as editor is little more than
half-hearted. Its purpose was at first partly commercial, permitting
advertising in the preface. Four ladies urged him on, so, Richardson
confesses, he "struck a bold stroke in the preface... having the umbrage
of the editor's character to screen [him] self behind."[15] But the
author nevertheless threw rather distinct shadows on the screen. His
preface speaks of the book altogether as a work of fiction: the editor
has "set forth" social duties; he has "painted" vice and virtue, "drawn"
characters, "raised," "taught," "effected," and "embellished with a
great variety of entertaining incidents." Yet, suddenly, the editor also
seems to have done nothing more than to have "perused these engaging
scenes," written a preface, and gotten them into print.

Richardson cannot quite give the imaginary author substance. "These
sheets" have accomplished all the wonders claimed for them, not "the
author of these sheets." Richardson speaks not of _the_ author, but of
_an_ author, of authors in general. The implication hangs over the
preface, and is strengthened by de Freval's letter, that the editor
himself has worked up the story from the barest details of real life
(which is, of course, what Richardson did). De Freval continues to speak
of the work entirely as of creative writing. The epistolary style is
aptly devised; the book will become a pattern for this kind of fiction;
it is contrived for readers of all tastes. But, quite in contradiction,
de Freval also implies that the editor has shown him the author's
original work, together with certain editorial changes necessary to
protect the real Pamela and Mr. B.

The second letter, presumably Webster's, toys with the suggestion that a
young woman actually wrote the letters which Richardson edits: "let us
have _Pamela_ as _Pamela_ wrote it." But this is only in play. Although
the writer disparages "_Novels_," the note which heads his letter when
it first appeared in _The Weekly Miscellany_ speaks of the "Author of
Pamela" who has "written an _English Novel_,"[16] and his opening
remarks are clearly those of a critic speaking of fiction.

Hill's first letter goes solidly for the conclusion that an author,
a man of genius, wrote the book. The heading, "To the Editor of
_Pamela_", is Richardson's o