Mr. Gibbon survived, but a short time, his favourite work. Yet he lived long enough to know that the most and best of his readers were much unsatisfied with him. And a few years more may, not improbably, leave him without one admirer.—Such is the fate of those, who will write themselves into fame, in defiance of all the principles of true taste, and of true wisdom!
R. W.
Hartlebury Castle, Nov. 18, 1796.
THE END OF THE FIFTH VOLUME.
Printed by J. Nichols and Son,
Red Lion Passage, Fleet-Street, London.
Errata:
P. 365, l. 9. for two read too.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] This noble and eminent person was the second son of the Lord Chancellor Hardwicke. He had been, for many years, in the first reputation at the Bar; and having passed through the offices of Sollicitor and Attorney General, was, himself, made Lord Chancellor in January 1770, but died soon after his appointment to that high dignity—Luctuosum hoc suis; acerbum patriæ; grave bonis omnibus.
[2] The Society have given leave that this Lecture be preached in their Chapel, and on the days specified.