uncontrolled license of the Press, had aspersed almost all the great
characters of the age; and this with impunity, their own persons and
names being utterly secret and obscure. This gave Mr. Pope the
thought that he had now some opportunity of doing good by detecting
and dragging into light these common enemies of mankind, since, to
invalidate this universal slander, it sufficed to show what
contemptible men were the authors of it. He was not without hopes
that, by manifesting the dulness of those who had only malice to
recommend them, either the booksellers would not find their account
in employing them, or the men themselves, when discovered, want
courage to proceed in so unlawful an occupation. This it was that
gave birth to the 'Dunciad,' and he thought it a happiness that, by
the late flood of slander on himself, he had acquired such a
peculiar right over their names as was necessary to this design.

"On the 12th of March, 1729, at St. James's, that poem was presented
to the king and queen (who had before been pleased to read it) by
the Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole, and some days after the
whole impression was taken and dispersed by several noblemen and
persons of the first distinction.

It is certainly a true observation that no people are so impatient
of censure as those who are the greatest slanderers, which was
wonderfully exemplified on this occasion. On the day the book was
first vended a crowd of authors besieged the shop; entreaties,
advices, threats of law and battery--nay, cries of treason--were all
employed to hinder the coming out of the 'Dunciad.' On the other
side, the booksellers and hawkers made as great efforts to procure
it. What could a few poor authors do against so great a majority as
the public? There was no stopping a torrent with a finger, so out