920. BOOKS, Recommending.—[continued].
You ask for my opinion of the work you, send me, and to let it go out
to the public. This I have ever made a point
of declining (one or two instances only excepted ).
Complimentary thanks to writers who
have sent me their works, have betrayed me sometimes
before the public, without my consent having
been asked. But I am far from presuming
to direct the reading of my fellow citizens,
who are good enough judges themselves of
what is worthy their reading.—
To Thoms Ritchie. Washington ed. vii, 192.
Ford ed., xvi, 171.
(M.
1820)
