's esteem for Mr Robins, replied, in the politest
manner, That every thing in his power was due to the memory of one who
had deserved so well of the public." That Mr Robins deserved well of
the public was unquestionable, though he had not written a line of
the Narrative. He had published several works on subjects of general
utility; and, besides his private instructions in beneficial science,
he had been employed officially in the service of his country: In
short, he needed not any thing of the reputation of the author of
the Narrative, whoever he was, to extend his own. But does the letter
referred to, or the quotation now given respecting Lord Anson's
permission to publish it, in any degree determine the question, or any
thing connected with it? The Editor has a different opinion of it; he
thinks it quite irrelevant--that it does not yield the least shadow
of proof, that Mr Robins had any thing to do with the volume of the
Narrative, already given to the public. All that can be legitimately
inferred from it amounts to this, that Lord Anson, entertaining a
high opinion of Mr Robins, and being much pleased with his works, was
desirous that he should publish a second volume of the Voyage, and
apprehended that he had abandoned the intention of doing so. Of the
fact of Mr Robins being the author of what had appeared, or even of
the existence of materials for a second volume in a state fit for the
public notice--of any thing, in short, but an intention on the part of
Mr Robins to this effect, the letter in question says not a word. Let
the reader judge for himself. The letter is as follows:--

"DEAR SIR,

"When I last saw you in town, I forgot to ask you, whether you
intended to publish the second volume of my "Voyage" before you leave
us; which, I confess, I am very sorry for. If you should have laid
aside all thoughts of favouring the world with more of your works, it
will be much disappointed, and no one in it more than your very much
obliged and humble servant,

_Bath, 22d October, 1749._

"ANSON."

"If you can tell the time of your departure, let me know it."

This letter is also preserved by Mr Nichols in his Literary Anecdotes
of the 18th Century, vol. ii. page 206, where the Narrative is
explicitly ascribed to Mr Robins, but not on, any particular evidence.
The statement indeed that is there given seems founded on Dr Wilson's
account of Mr Robins, without any other source of information having
been consu