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.
