Note (return) — Replies.
Reading edition
The publication of the large edition of his Works in question was undertaken at the sole expense of Mrs. Hutcheson, one of the two ladies who were Mr. Law's companions and friends in his retirement at King's Cliffe, out of respect to his memory; and who furnished the books Mr. Law left behind him relating to this object. The chief editor was a Mr. George Ward, assisted by a Mr. Thomas Langcake, two former friends and admirers of Law; who occasionally superintended his pieces through the press, being then resident in London. And the reason of this edition not being completed was, that both Mrs. Hutcheson and Mr. Ward died about the time of the publication of the fourth volume; Mrs. Gibbon[3], the aunt of the historian, it appears, not being willing to continue the publication. All that these parties did as editors was, to take the original translations, change the phraseology here and there without reference to the German original (which language it is supposed they did not understand), omit certain portions of the translator's Prefaces, alter the capital letters of a few words, and conduct the treatises through the press.