...between Arthur Collins' and William Collins' unctuous style of flattery. It looks as if Donald J Green could be on to something.

It is also interesting to me to see that JA's depiction of Mr Collins is not, as I had thought, a gross exaggeration or caricature for comic effect, but a faithful rendition of an admittedly extreme style of expression which was actually to be met with occasionally in the late 18th century.