(‘r t f
18 ' E X P L A N A T O R Y R E M A R K S.
Amongft his effects were found fome remains of his brother’s collection of
clothes and utenfils, though but few, and'about four hundred copies of this
journal: thofe who had the management of his concerns, made me an offer of
thefe copies, which I bought at their own price, together with the plates
belonging to this work.
There had always appeared to me a great difficulty in refpeCl to a junification
of myfelf from his charges : to do this in a common news-paper,
or in a pamphlet, though it might ferve the prefent purpofe-, yet the calumny
would be handed down to pofterity j and i f an exculpation gained the notice
of a few cotemporaries, it flood but little chance of furviving when perforial
regard was at an end*
I chearfully accepted the offer made me of purchafing the remaining copies,
as the poffeifion of them would afford me an opportunity of tranfmitting to
future time, fuch an account of this tranfaCtion as might enable thofe who
perufed the charge, to judge of it fairly for themfelves.
When the reader reflects, on the feveral circumflances here related, and
confidefs this poor man as neceffitous, difappointed in his views, and under
the commencement of infanity, it will not be difficult to account for his
extraordinary, behaviour to perfons who had aCted in all things towards him
with diiintereftednefs and generofity..
¡¡¡i'll |p
J O H N F O T H E R G I L L.
P O S T S C R I P T.
SO O N after the publication o f Parkinfon’s Journal, a- gentleman to whom
I was very well known, and who ’is now abfent on duty, in a remote
part of the world, was fo much affeCted with the injurious treatment I had
met with, as to be at the pains of drawing up the following remarks on the
preface, with a view to get them inferted in the Monthly Review. With
this intention he put them into my hands, where they have lain ever fincej
As, on perufing them, I find they have touched upon fome circumflances
which are not direCtly noticed in the preceding narrative,1 it feemed not improper
to add them to thefe remarks.
T o the Publilher o f the Monthly Review.
Among the ‘many ufes 'to the publick • of a literary review, it cannot
be, the leaft, nor out of character, to convey a candid defence againft an
unjuft attack. In virtue of this, plea it is that I claim your infertion of this
addrefs to you.
A kind of folemn appeal to the publick having been lodged in Mr.
Parkinfon’s preface to his publication of certain remains of his brother’s
journal and draughts, on his voyage to the South-Seasi °in the Endeavour,
againft the ill treatment pretended to have been received by him, relative to
fuch his edition; in which appeal he has efpecially involved Dr. Fothergill;
it is from a particular regard of this gentleman’s character, that the following
remarks