But the charm of this famous novel is as
fresh as when it was first issued. Its inimitable types, its happy
mingling of Christianity and character, its wholesome benevolence and
its practical wisdom, are still unimpaired. We smile at the
inconsistencies of the plot; but we are carried onward in spite of them,
captivated by the grace, the kindliness, the gentle humour of the story.
Yet it is a mistake to suppose that its success was instantaneous.
Pirated it was, of course; but, according to expert investigations, the
authorized edition brought so little gain to its first proprietors that
the fourth issue of 1770 started with a loss. The fifth, published in
April, 1774, was dated 1773; and had apparently been withheld because
the previous edition, which consisted of no more than one thousand
copies, was not exhausted. Five years elapsed before the sixth edition
made its tardy appearance in 1779. These facts show that the writer's
contemporaries were not his most eager readers.
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