After its first publication by subscription in 1802, the rights were sold to Richard Edwards, Bristol bookseller. Edwards published a revised and enlarged second edition in 1803. The work met with much success, with four editions in England and two in the United States before a fifth edition with additions was published in 1831. Drew (1765-1833), who in early life was involved in smuggling, became known as the “Cornish metaphysician”; he also wrote Remarks on the first part of a Book written by Thomas Paine, entitled ‘The Age of Reason’, and a history of Cornwall.