In shaping this into letters he thought it might be a "new species of writing that might possibly turn young people into a course of reading different from the pomp and parade of romance-writing, and dismissing the improbable and marvellous with which novels generally abound, might tend to promote the cause of religion and virtue." His wife and "a young lady living with them," to whom he had read some of it, used to come into his little closet every night with, "Have you any more of _Pamela_, Mr.R. ?" Two other female friends joined in the interest and eulogy.

He finished it (that is, the first two volumes which contain the whole of the original idea) and published it, though at first with the business-like precaution of appearing to "edit" only, and the more business-like liberty of liberal praise of what he edited.

It became at once popular: and received the often repeated, but to the author very annoying, compliment of piratical continuation.

So he set to work and continued it himself: as usually (though by no means invariably) with rather diminished success.

On such points as the suggestion that he may have owed a debt to Marivaux (in _Marianne_) and others, little need be said here.