If it brought him no sudden wealth,
it certainly raised his reputation with the book-selling world. A
connexion already begun with Smollett's 'Critical Review' was drawn
closer; and the shrewd Sosii of the Row began to see the importance of
securing so vivacious and unconventional a pen. Towards the end of the
year he was writing for Wilkie the collection of periodical essays
entitled 'The Bee'; and contributing to the same publisher's 'Lady's
Magazine', as well as to 'The Busy Body' of one Pottinger. In these,
more than ever, he was finding his distinctive touch; and ratifying
anew, with every fresh stroke of his pen, his bondage to authorship as a
calling.
He had still, however, to conquer the public. 'The Bee', although it
contains one of his most characteristic essays ('A City Night-Piece'),
and some of the most popular of his lighter verses ('The Elegy on Mrs.
Mary Blaize'), never attained the circulation essential to healthy
existence. It closed with its eighth number in November, 1759.
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