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Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. c. 24. Not previously published.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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My letter which past yours on the road, will have told you that I shall be from home during the middle of July. My
movement depends upon Danvers, from whom I have not heard since, – but at any
rate I shall certainly & sans doubt xx return by the first of August, & you had better make your arrangements to
travel with Blanco, & for the sake of seeing sights by the way take the
road of Oxford, Ludlow & Chester, in which case you may give his Honour a
call en passant, if he be in the country, as probably he will. I hope Henry will
come with you, he will enjoy himself far more than he did last time, now that you are a sound man. – The Brownes are at Ludlow, which is a place worth going a days journey to see, the Castle being
one of our finest ruins.
This year I cannot look at Scotland, but I will my hands are too full. Look how my affairs stand. I am
in the midst of the Regency debatesx contracted for by Murray more than two years ago, & only a third
part done: – this however when it becomes the order of the day will soon be compleated. Then the Book of the Churchmost best performances. I expect to do this,
& finish the Omniana,x xxxx perform my part, it gives me as much as I want. But between ourselves I doubt
its continuance, & should not be displeased to receive a pressing letter from Ballantyne urging me to set forward with the fourth volume.
Croker has written me a very friendly letter, inclosing his correspondence
with Lord Hertford concerning that good ship the Historiographer to which he
would fain have had me appointed.he is such that so
much industry should be thrown away upon a man so little able to direct it for he is a most extraordinary blockhead. Do look at my
review in the 2d vol. of the Annual of his Hist: of Maritime Discovery,Portugueze King a Jew physician for his Confessor.
I wish Canning & Wellesley could have been joined the ministry, but would rather have the
present men without them, than them without Ld Liverpool & the
Sidmouthsbeen had my good wishes & opinion. Any thing but Any thing rather than the Gregres.
I owe Gifford a letter of thanks, but it must wait till I make
it a letter of business. – I had nearly forgotten to beg you would tell him that if he will send me either the MS. or the proofs of
Blancos article,x very gladly comment upon it, – if he wishes it. With me the subject stands over for next
years Register, because the 2d vol. of the Debates of the Cortes was not printed in time.
If you get my money before you are leaving town, Rickman can get
it franked, in want of a franker in ordinary. I hope you will establish a new communication in Downing Street if Vansittart