| Description | (For the date, see MS 3782/12/59/37.)
Dear Sir,
I want a friend in town that can keep a secret, and after looking around me I find my self impell'd by sundry motives to ask the favour of you to get a very few paragraphs published for me in the Star. I promise you I will never ask you to publish any thing that is libelous or injurious to any individual whatsoever. Yet nevertheless it is absolutely necessary that it should not be known that I am the author; otherwise the paragraph would loose its effects and, what is still more worse, it may get me into a paper war, which I wish to avoid.
You (or perhaps your brother) must first settle a plan of secrecy with the editor of the Star, that inviolable secrecy will be maintain'd, and that you will pay the customary prises for publishing; but he must not communicate one tittle to his Birmingham correspondent (for he has one at Birmingham); and if any other name than your own was given, it would be less suspicious.
I wish the inclosed to be published without delay, and I will take an opportunity of acquainting you with all my reasons and motives.
I remain, with regard, dear sir, yours sincerely,
M. Boulton
[Edited transcript.]
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