_The Author of Peter Wilkins_ (Vol. ii., p. 480.).--An advertisement
prefixed to the edition of this remarkable work in Smith's _Standard
Library_, 1839, gives the following information respecting the author:--

"In the year 1835, Mr. Nicol the printer sold by auction a number of
books and manuscripts in his possession, which had formerly belonged to
the well-known publisher Dodsley; and in arranging them for sale, the
original agreement for the sale of the manuscript of 'Peter Wilkins,'
by the author, 'Robert Pultock of Clement's Inn' to Dodsley, was
discovered. From this document it appears that Mr. Pultock received
twenty pounds, twelve copies of the work, and 'the cuts of the first
impression,' that is, a set of proof impressions of the fanciful
engravings that professed to illustrate the first edition, as the price
of the entire copyright. This curious document was sold to John Wilks,
Esq., M.P. on the 17th December, 1835."

Mr. Leigh Hunt, in his _Book for a Corner_, remarks upon this,--

"The reader will observe that the words 'by the author,' in this
extract, are not accompanied by marks of quotation. The fact, however,
is stated as if he knew it for such, by the quoter of the document."

The difference mentioned by DR. RIMBAULT between the initials in the
title-page and those appended to the dedication, occurs also in Mr. Smith's
edition. But the dedication to which the initials R.P. are affixed, speaks
of the book as the work of the writer in the most unmistakeable terms. Was
the S. in the place of the P. a typographical error, perpetuated by
carelessness and oversight; or a mystification of the author, adopted when
the success of the book was uncertain, and continued after the dedication
had contradicted it, by that want of attention to minutiæ which was more