But now I am talking of beginning a book, and have long had a thing
upon my mind to be imparted to the reader, which, if not imparted now,
can never be imparted to him as long as I live (whereas the COMPARISON
may be imparted to him any hour in the day)——I’ll just mention it, and
begin in good earnest.
The thing is this.
That of all the several ways of beginning a book which are now in
practice throughout the known world, I am confident my own way of doing
it is the best——I’m sure it is the most religious——for I begin with
writing the first sentence——and trusting to Almighty God for the
second.
’Twould cure an author for ever of the fuss and folly of opening his
street-door, and calling in his neighbours and friends, and kinsfolk,
with the devil and all his imps, with their hammers and engines, &c.
only to observe how one sentence of mine follows another, and how the
plan follows the whole.
I wish you saw me half starting out of my chair, with what confidence,
as I grasp the elbow of it, I look up——catching the idea, even
sometimes before it half way reaches me——
I believe in my conscience I intercept many a thought which heaven
intended for another man.
_Pope_ and his Portrait[38] are fools to me——no martyr is ever so full
of faith or fire——I wish I could say of good works too——but I have no