weeks occasioned by a fire, which destroyed the printing-office where the first volume had been just committed to the press.
They entered upon the task, indeed, consulting rather their wish to see it undertaken, than their ability to perform it, as speedily as might be expected. What they have now been able to accomplish, with a good design, however imperfect the execution, they are persuaded cannot be wholly uninteresting to the numerous personal friends of Mr. Wakefield, who, "having this picture of his life set before them, may still keep him alive in their memories, and by this means may have some small reparation for their inexpressible loss by his death." b
b Bishop Spratt's "Life of Cowley."