gifts
I thank you for the
Box which is to come We warped dear
Mrs. Clarke
so much with our un-orthodox Conventicles,
that
Mr. C.
will have something to do
to bring her Mind Straight again. –
Mrs. W
and all of you must have thought
me if not “rather a kind of imposter”, yet rather a kind of a brute not to have
written a word since we parted, so kind as you all were to me! But I know how
you are overdone with writing and I spare you every unnecessary
line.
To speak the truth I have been a little worked
myself and
for the few last days
have been confined to my bed by one of my feverish colds; I am sitting up a
little to day but not in very good writing plight having a blister on my back as
broad as
little William’s face.
I wonder if I shall ever see that said little William? –
To thank you over-warmly for your feeling and affectionate letter
would be to imply that it was possible I coud have suspected your large
liberality and considerate kindness
. I shall obey you by
dedicating
Mrs. Barnards
kind
legacy to the purchase of a post Chaise, and her Annuity to the maintaining
it. I
hope I shall keep within the limits of your
allowance. Any two periods of the year it will be the same to me to receive it.
Christmas and Midsummer are my usual grand seasons, but if a Month or two or
three later will suit you better, I can manage as I shall have some money of my
own to take.
Allow me to offer You
a plain and simple, but sincere and cordial assurance of my gratitude for the
great honour you have done me, and the great gratification you have given me, by
your elegant and beautiful
Poem*. Tho I feel myself, (and
there is no affectation in declaring it) very unworthy of the kind and flattering
things it contains, yet I feel a considerable addition of pleasure in perusing it,
from the idea that it is your approbation of the serious Spirit in
the little work*
which you are so good to commend which disposes You to overlook any defects in the
composition;
defects multiplied by bad health which
indisposes, and partly incapacitates me from correcting coolly, tho it does not
yet always prevent me from writing rapidly, and therefore I fear,
carelessly.
The stings of my conscience get the better of all impediments to writing, and while I am constantly
eating you at breakfast, and drinking you at dinner
I can no longer
rest under the load of ingratitude of not cordially thanking you for the
affectionate interest you take in my health by your kind present of
Arrow Root*
– I must just observe by the way that it would have been more speedy as well as safe
had both been directed to me at
Mr. Adorns’s Wine Street Bristol.
But among all the sensual gratifications
with which you furnish me, I must not forget those of the intellect. Your
pleasant letter was a treat to me. I felt inclined, but I resisted the
inclination, to envy your
Bible
feast* at
Cambridge
I am astonished how
Mr. Cunningham
continues to rise
upon himself every time he speaks; but on this awakening Bible business, the heart
helps out the head. It gives birth /to/ a joint production; piety as well
as talent animating the piece Our County project for a Bible Society* is very
uphill work.
The Bishop against it*. The Aristocracy friendly. I have been charmed
with a letter I have just read on the occasion from
Lord
Egmont,
manly decision and deep piety were strongly expressed.
The noble and Royal Meeting at
Westonmister
[sic], headed by five Princes of the blood, will I trust
give a new impulse to the Provincial Societies*.
Mrs.
H. Hornton
who was present, gave me an
interesting report of the day.
I this moment receive your too kind letter, and tho it is late, and tho it is not
a
writing day,* and
tho
I have been
so unusually ill the whole week
, I could not sleep if I
did not send you a line. I cannot express the vexation the mortification, I feel
at your not having got
the book
from me.* I
directed not
Hatchard, but
Cadell the Publisher
who is always the dispenser of presents because they are sent a few
days before publication to send one the very first hour to
Bruton Street – and you have not had it
– I should have ordered it to
Huntingdon
with the Bishop's but you my dearest Lady preferred your town House. Such a
thing ought not to vex me so much as it does. If you do not find it
in Bruton Street – which you will be charitable enough to tell me, I will order
Hatchard
/Cadell/ to send you the very first of the 2d. Edition,
which as the delay has been already so great will I hope put you in possession
of a more correct copy. Believe me, it is not that I overrate the Book, by
laying so much stress on this disappointment, but that I cannot bear the
suspicion of neglect, where both my affections, my esteem and my gratitude are
equally concerned.
I hope you got a letter from me
a few days ago; thanking you for the reviving Squish
[sic].
Of The books to which you allude I know nothing.
I will send to the Hotel. How can you be so good and kind? – I know
not what they are but I am sure they are a fresh instance of your unwearied
generous friendship
I have not allowed myself to read your letter to
the very end, but snatched up my pen to ease my mind. I will now finish it.
The books are arrived. Inclosed were some Reviews &c. which I shall send to
Bruton Street by the Coach as the loss of
them would break the regularity of your numbers.
And now
my dearest Madam, what
can I say to you for this splendid present? You are so vigilant
an Observer, that I find I must be on my guard what I say before you, for you
watch my words, and anticipate wishes expressed at random,
per maniere de parler [sic],* and without any
definite design. You are really my universal purveyor; and not only provide for
the Animal but the rational part of your undeserving, but not ungrateful
friend.
With such a provision as you have furnished for my body and
mind, added to my many mercies, I must not complain of solitude and silence,
for
tho I have been so ill the last ten days as
scarcely to be able to see any body, much less to talk to them I can
read and drink Soda, two luxuries which so many invalids have not, or
having, cannot enjoy.
My most affectionate remembrances to
your young
companion
. I desire her not to forget me. I do not know if she has
ever read
Baron
Haller's letters to his daughter
which
I shall take the liberty to inclose when I return your Reviews.*
I know not what to say to
D. Baillie for what I must call his
elegant kindness. Do you think he would take it rightly [if]
[tear] I sent him
Christian
Morals
*? – has he
[tear]ren? – they at least might read it –
If you think
it right, perhaps
you would have the goodness to order
Hatchard to get /ready/
a copy of the 4th. Edition elegantly bound, but not
to send it till I write to you again.
Take care of your health my dearest Lady – Remember that the
constant excitement of your sensibility, and the exertions of your mind, with
people of the right /stamp/ , is more wearing than the uninteresting
insipidity of the frivolous.
A thousand thanks for your kindness of all sorts to me, for remembering to write to
me as soon as you got home, and for your attention both to my body and Mind
in the
Soda Water* which came safe, and for
Dr. Clarke
who is arrived but not
read. I was thinking how I could get this Third Volume, your kindness having
furnished me with the two preceeding; and lo! like my attendant Sylph you
guessed at my wants and supplied them.*
I long to know how your
great day went off.
Mr. Boak
passed thro
Huntingdon at the time and heard of it far and near. I believe you
can do everything but mollify certain hard hearts and open certain eyes judiciously
blinded. Thank dear
Millicent for the harmonious and very pleasant
Way-Verses. So
characteristic of the delightful writer! By the way – when
[he] does he talk of accomplishing his plan at
Bristol? – If you have any intercourse with him be
sure put him in mind that he is pledged to
Barley
Wood
for a night or two –
Are you not delighted with the
Velvet Cushion*? I am extremely pleased with it; I expect it will have a
great run. I was much amused at receiving an excessively pretty Epigram a high
compliment to myself from a Gentleman who supposed me to be the Author.*
Sir Thos. Acland who has been /here/ to take leave
previous to his departure for
Vienna told me
that others had done me the honour to ascribe it to me. The sentiments are certainly
in strict Unison with my own –
The Author kindly sent it to me – Is his
name yet made public? I will send you the Verses another time.
I hope you are still enjoying the profitable and very pleasant Society
[deletion].
He cribbed me sadly in the
time he bestowed on us. If he has not left you be so
good to tell him that I received his valuable present of
Fenclon.*It was indeed paying me
for my Bristol Stones with Jewels of the first water. Pray tell him also
that I was afraid, that thro the well meant folly of stupid
Bulgin he had not receved [sic] a copy both for
himself and
Mr. Le Touche
, but have at last the satisfaction to find
that he did.
I woud write to himself but from the fear that he has left you, and if
not this will save him the trouble of a letter
I hope to see him again. The
loss of such friends as we have lost makes us cling still closer to those of the same
class who remain to us – I am ready to exclaim with
Wilberforce in his last letter – Who next Lord?
Conceiving that you will be glad to hear from time to time a word from me respecting
your Son,
I resolve to scribble a line, tho yesterday was a peculiarly bad day
.
Mr. Sparrow
his Tutor and
Mr. Hensman
spent a long day here lately.
I took Mr. H. as usual into my room; we had a very long discussion, and I required an explicit
account of their goings on, which he very minutely gave me. I have the satisfaction
of reporting that every thing seems very promising; if the improvements are not rapid
they are at least progressive. At my request he has begun to attempt composition.
He reads
Watts’s Logic*and Mr. H. makes observations on their joint perusal both of that and whatever else they
read together. As the days lengthen he rises earlier which gives him more time for the
Greek Testament before breakfast. He is translating some passages from
Demosthenes* which will help to form his Style. I suggested that here after he should learn and
recite some fine passages in
Burke’s Speeches.* He reads by himself more than he did, and I lent for that purpose
Plutarch’s Lives;* and
Travels thro Germany.* I have also presented sent him with
the Saint Paul of Barley Wood,* which he has promised to read; I told him that being written by one who had the honour
to be his Mother’s friend, it might interest him more. Mr. H. says that tho he cannot say he sees as yet any decided piety, yet he has great pleasure in seeing that he [has] not the slightest prejudice
against religion or religious people. This is /a/ great point for ‘a
Harrow fellow’.* But what I rejoyced at as the most gratifying circumstance, was that he told me he
possessed great purity of mind. This is a blessed thing at an age when boys have commonly
their minds tainted.
May God’s blessing preserve it to him! I think
Clifton a very fortunate situation for him. I think now he is getting a step towards manhood
he would hardly endure the dullness & total want of society of an obscure Village,
where he woud probably be too solitary, or led into inferior company. Now at Clifton
their little social intercourse is entirely among religious, and well mannered people,
and his Sunday’s Instruction sound and good. It was Providential for poor distressed
Hensman to get Hudson to fill at once the Niche so fortunately vacated by
Cowan,* or he might have forced himself into it again at his return. There appears to subsist
a pleasant affection and confidence between the Tutor and Pupil and Hensman says the
latter has easy access to his house where he often calls, and where he will get nothing but good. I have said so
much about this interesting youth that I have left myself no room for other Subjects.
I have just got a long letter from dear
Mary Gisborne replete with sorrow, affection and the deepest piety.
How stupid, in
Bowdler’s prejudiced bigoted
father* to obstruct the very desirable plans of
Ld. Calthorpe
and
Mr. Inglis
to write a Memoir of the dear departed! I have written to
Harriet Bowdler to try to soften her brother
Bartlett’s-Buildings heart.
*
Poor
Mrs. Thornton
I hear looks sadly, has a pain in her chest and drinks Asses Milk. I tremble for
her life.
Her letters rather increase in sadness, but it is a sanctified sadness. – I forgot
to say that Mr. H. and I agreed that nothing would so much contribute to give Mr. S. a habit of application as to give him a slight tincture of Fractions, and Algebra;
not to make him a Mathematician but to tie down his attention –
I know of no person likely to suit
Lady Gosford’s friend as a Governess
. You ask how I like
W. Scott’s new Poem.* I have not seen it, but do not hear it thought equal to its predecessors. A friend has sent me
Eustace’s Tour thro Italy.* It is classical & elegant in a high degree – but has too much Republicanism too little
of the Manners of the people, and I think a disposition to overrate their Virtues
– God be praised for
the peace!* – but what Peace so long as the Witchcrafts of Bonaparte are so many.
P. is in very poor health.
We all join in kind remembrances to Yr. Ladyship and
Miss S.
I feel a little ashamed of my own impetuosity and selfishness, that
in the first burst of sorrow for our lamented friend
H. Thornton
* I should /mix/ any regret for my petty concerns, as they regarded my poor, with the sorrow of heart which I shared
with hundreds. It has however given occasion to the exercise of your generous and Christian liberality,
and I thank you most cordially in the name of hundreds for your kind and seasonable
bounty.
A thousand thanks for your attention even to my Amusement, in sending me
Walter Scotts last Work.* It was so considerately kind! He cannot but always be a fine Poet, and a great Master
of his Art; but this appears to me to be the most defective of his Poems. Like some
other people that I could name, not a hundred Miles from Barley Wood, he writes too
much. It is true he has an opulent Mind and the stores of his rich imagination are
not easily exhausted.
I have been delighted to see the elegant
Robert Sparrow in his character of Cicerone to the Saints.
He one day came down with
Mr. Wilson
whom I never saw before and who is a most amiable /Man/
and another with
Hugh Pearson an old favorite of mine
.
His Mentor of course accompanied.
It is pleasant to see him easy and cheerful in such sort of company, and they exhibit
religion to nam[tear] a pleasing form, without any of that alloy of coa[rse]ness [tear]
which by assimilating itself with religion, makes the /young/ fancy that religion itself is worse.
The Saints Jubilee at
Bristol
produced a great harvest.* About 800 to the Missionary only.* – The Jew business promises to revive these,* that I hope will give me a peep at
Mr. Way
– I sent him
my book,* but know not if he has read it. It is a singular thing, that I have received more
encouraging and flattering reports on that book from Bishops and the higher Clergy
than from almost any others. I scarcely expected it
I have just received from a stranger
a new book called
‘the Invisible Hand’ – I have read but a small
part, but it seems well written and pious – tis a Tale.*
I am sorry you saw so little of
Mrs. La Touche
I earnestly hope that visit
will be yet made; to say nothing of
her residence which I
wish to see of all places, she is herself very interesting, and a character of
inestimable value. (by the way) I am astonished at what you tell me of
Mr. Knox
, if there is any coolness it must be on
his part. I am sure it has not been on mine.
We have not indeed
corresponded as largely as we used to do, but he himself has apologized for it, from
his other pursuits.
My esteem for his virtues and admiration of his talents are
great and undiminished. We do not indeed think alike on certain religious points and
Mr. Jebb
(whom I also much love) had the candor to tell me that our
difference in this matter was the reason why he did not write to thank me for
my
books
.
but I did not know why this should make any coolness among
/Christian/ friends, I am sure it will make none in heaven, and I am
the last person who would lower my regard for a friend on account of their opinion
of my writings.
I shall hope to see both Knox and Jebb next Summer.
You would, were you not candor itself, think me a strange Animal, not to have thanked
you, both for your kind letter and interest/ing/ present of books. But in this seeming/ly/ quiet spot I can hardly give you an idea what a scanty commodity
time has been with me;
the continued bad state of my two Sisters
,
company very frequently, and
every interval filled with scribbling half penny and penny compositions
. Tho I would have you to know, I am now rising in dignity and importance, having
just finished (what I hope may be my last) a work that will be very costly three half pence, if not actually two pence,
The Death of Mr. Fantom the new Fashioned Reformist.* If not a very learned composition, I hope it may be of some little use.
I hope you will write to me sooner than I deserve. My best love to dear
Millicent. The Bishop told me he was not without hope that You would spend the Passion week* at
the Deanery My Sisters desire their most affectionate respects
Patty is very proud of her Book,* both for the sake of the donor, and because it coincides so exactly with our own
views of the Subject
I gallop on hardly knowing what I write and without a minute to read it, but I cannot
bear to suffer another post to go out without a line.
– I have had several good books given me lately, among others
the life and Diary of Mrs. Graham
* an American which contains as much solid piety expressed in as eloquent strains as
I have often seen; for I am not in general fond of Diaries.
‘Cowpers’ letters’ You have read by this time, and are I trust as much pleased with them as I am.*
Chalmers Evidences,*
White’s and
Beans Sermons,* the two Preachers at Welbeck Chapel and two old friends of mine have been also sent
me /&
Blackmans Life./ * I wish they could also send me time to read them.
You will smile to hear that among a Multitude of Royal funeral Sermons* I have just received
one from my friend Dr. Maltby
!!* I have not yet read it
We were much gratified by a visit of a few days from the two Mr. Charles Grants, as I presume your late guest told You.
I tried much to detain
him, and to bestow on us a little of that Oratory which I have so often admired upon
paper, but business called him to
town, and
his excellent father was engaged to visit his Constituents in
Invirnesshire. His hurry however did not prevent his sending me down some good books e’re he departed
Such a letter as your last should not have been unanswered a day, if I could have commanded my time, but in different ways
I have really been working double tides. So much company, such an over-flow of letters,
to say nothing of a presumptuous
book of between 5 and 6 hundred pages hurried over in a few Months.
* – It will be abused, and I am prepared for it. I hope
Hatchard has by this time sent it you as I directed before publication
Professor Farish who was here the other day gave us an interesting account of your
Bible Meeting. I rejoyce that Episcopal tyranny could not defeat your pious labours. I have heard
such stories lately from that quarter, as I had rather repeat than write.* –
We too in our little way had a most prosperous
Meeting* 40 Clergymen &c – 120 dined at Barley Wood in the Garden chiefly, and 200 drank tea
–
I shall thankfully forwards your kind Subscriptions to
the French Translation, as soon as I am informed that my former one was received.
* They frightened me by calling the Tracts
Contes Moraux, that Rogue Mamontal’s Title I have as I think I told you prefixed the Epithet
Nouveaux which I think will obviate it.* The priests are very watchful and we must be prudent. I have got in
the Conservateur, as well as the News papers of
Paris, such abuse of the
Bible Society!* – Poor
Dr. Hamilton
! his society was rather too much for you! Painful recollections must have been inseparable
from the sight of him. – And there is no hope!*
I have not seen
Dodwell’s Greece,* and shall be very thankful for it, as you so kindly offer it.
I beg leave to present
this new and improved Edition of the Bible Rhymes* to your dear
little girl. In great haste I am my dear Madam
As I presume the
third Edition must be published [obscured
by inkblot] /published by/ this time, I beg the favour of you to send me half a
Dozen Copies by the Coach directed to
Mr.
Bulgin
for me.
I have lately had a visit from
Mr Eastburn
– the chief
Bookseller and Printer of New York.
He sent me some years
since /a present of/ an American Edition of my own works – He printed
thirty Editions of Coelebs One thousand in each Edition. He is a
man of excellent Sense and character –
The inclosed trifle is not worth sending, but as
they are the last rhymes I shall ever scribble I send them. They were made for the Album of an idle young lady.*
I hear frequently from that most active and genuine Christian the
Duchess of Beaufort* – She is the
Lady Olivia of this part of the World. Three of her daughters, as you know, are most exemplary.* I trust you have read
Lord Bexley’s Bible Speech
,* he sent it me with [tear]ly pious letter. Tho not many [tear], not many noble are called, yet blessed be God some are, and the number is visibly greatly
increased, and increasing.
I
return you a hundred thanks for your nice benison to me, and a thousand thanks
for your kind present to my dear kind
Physician. He was so delighted and so
proud, and got together a grand party who dined most luxurious.
You really conferred a
great obligation on me by /it./
He has been attending me daily Six
weeks sometimes /twice/, and he will never take a Fee
I must write one line to
thank for
your two
letters
,
which I do with the more pleasure
because they were written in so good a hand, so neat and free from blots. By this
obvious improvement you have intitled yourself to another book. You must go to
Hatchard’s and chuse. I think we have nearly exhausted the
Epics. What think you of a little good prose? –
Johnson’s Hebrides*
or
Walton’s Lives* – unless you would like
a neat Edition of
Cowper’s Poems
* or of
Paradise Lost* for your own
eating* – In any case chuse something which you do not
possess. – I want you to become a complete Frenchman that I may give you
Racine the only Dramatic Poet I know in any modern language that is
perfectly pure and good.* On second thoughts what say you to
Potter’s
Eschylus
* on attendant that you are a complete Grecian? – It is very
finely done and as heroic as any of your Epics. If you prefer it Send for this to
Hatchard’s
neatly bound. I think you have hit off the Ode very well, I am much obliged
to you for the Dedication. I shall reserve your translation to see how
progressive your improvement is. Next Summer if it please God I hope We shall talk
over some of these things. Remember me kindly to
Your
Pappa
and
tell
him I cannot say how much I am obliged to him for his kindness to poor
Shepherd
*.
He has made the Widow’s heart to sing for joy* – O Tom! that
is better, and will be found so in the long /run/ to have written as good an Ode as
Horace himself*.
I have been for some time looking out for a conveyance of the inclosed Urns which
were due to you after the Bazaar, and
Louisa has
daily put me in mind as she said her purchase was not equal to your bounty /recievd/
before – I was very glad to hear from You and that you were happily restored – a thousand thanks for
the fine grapes – How are the dear young ones, especially my sweet little
friend?
I return you many thanks in behalf of the poor and needy and him that is ready to
perish for your kind benefaction of £25.
I should not have delayd this so long, but that
the day I received it arrived here
Lord C. and
his Sister
*
and
Mr. Wilberforce
. This has fully occupied me for the last three days.
They are just gone I not only could find no time to write, but I wished to defer it
till I could say something about them.
Ld. C. looks well, and tho he is not, as you know naturally communicative and gay yet
he seemed not to labour under the same depression of spirits, but seemed to take an
interest in the conversation without much joining in it.
Not a word passed on a certain subject of course. Your name was never once pronounced
when we were together, nor did Mr. W. when we were alone once advert to it nor in any particular manner to the late
indisposition. Miss C. when we were alone incidentally mentioned your name several
times on indifferent subjects, and mentioned with much feeling, that you had been
kind and useful to her unfortunate deceased brother.* In short no bystander would have suspected that any thing extraordinary had passed.
Ld. C. is still slower of speech than usual but that is all.
Unfortunately,
Dr. Perry
* in whom they seem to place extreme confidence has a bad paralytic stroke. This seems
likely to shorten their stay at
Bath. Tho in fact there is little /or/ nothing in what I have said yet I thought you would like to hear that little. I believe
both W and I were equally afraid to broach the Subject and perhaps as things are irrevocably
fixed, it was as well not. No one I have seen from
Clifton or elsewhere has ever said a word on the subject; this shows that it is not generally
known, otherwise it would be talked of. So I hope you will cheer up and be comfortable
and happy.*
A thousand thanks for your attention to our pleasure in sending
Clarke’s New Volume.* It is an age since I heard from You.
I write a hasty line to take advantage of
Mr. Addington
’s Patent Frank
* to send you a Specimen of my learned labours.
I was earnestly desired by some high persons to do something towards an Antidote for
the evil Spirit of insurrection which is at work more busily perhaps than you are
aware.
The Tract inclosed I have adapted to the present times, and it is widely circulated.*
Perhaps you would like to order some copies from
Hatchard, and recommend Your Friends to do the same.
I
want to send you a cheese, such a one as you liked last Summer, it is of
Cheddar, but too new, you must not cut it till May. I cant send it till you tell
me where to direct it in Town, have you got a leaving
house.
Will you forgive my
troubling You to let some friend or Servant who goes to Town pay for my Book
Cases
,
as you were so kind to
bespeak them I thought it best the Money should go thro’ you. Pray let the Maker
know I like them exceedingly With the Six Shillings that will remain will
you buy Maise [unclear] a handkerchief as a little
remembrance.
