Newstead Abbey, September 2nd, 1814.

'I am obliged by what you have sent, but would 'rather not see anything of the kind*; we have had ' enough of these things already, good and bad, and 'next month you need not trouble yourself to collect ' even the higher generation-on my account. It gives 'me much pleasure to hear of Mr. Hobhouse's and Mr. Merivale's good entreatment by the journals you

' mention.

'I still think Mr. Hogg and yourself might make ' out an alliance. Dodsley's was, I believe, the last 'decent thing of the kind, and his had great success ' in its day, and lasted several years; but then he had 'the double advantage of editing and publishing. The Spleen, and several of Gray's odes, much of Shenstone, and many others of good repute, made their 'first appearance in his collection. Now, with the support of Scott, Wordsworth, Southey, &c., I see little reason why you should not do as well; and if ' once fairly established, you would have assistance 'from the youngsters, I dare say. Stratford Canning (whose "Buonaparte" is excellent), and many others, ' and Moore, and Hobhouse, and I, would try a fall now and then (if permitted), and you might coax 'Campbell, too, into it. By the by, he has an unpub'lished (though printed) poem on a scene in Germany (Bavaria, I think), which I saw last year, that is perfectly magnificent, and equal to himself. I wonder 'he don't publish it.

'Oh! do you recollect S **, the engraver's, mad ' letter about not engraving Phillips's picture of Lord Foley? (as he blundered it); well, I have traced it,

*The reviews and magazines of the month.

'I think. It seems, by the papers, a preacher of 'Johanna Southcote's is named Foley; and I can no 'way account for the said S**'s confusion of words ' and ideas, but by that of his head's running on Johanna and her apostles. It was a mercy he did not say Lord Tozer. You know, of course, that S** is a 'believer in this new (old) virgin of spiritual impreg

' nation.

'I long to know what she will produce*; her being ' with child at sixty-five is indeed a miracle, but her getting any one to beget it, a greater.

'If you were not going to Paris or Scotland, I could 'send you some game: if you remain, let me know. 'P.S. A word or two of "Lara," which your en'closure brings before me. It is of no great promise 'separately; but, as connected with the other tales, it 'will do very well for the volumes you mean to pub'lish. I would recommend this arrangement-Childe 'Harold, the smaller Poems, Giaour, Bride, Corsair, 'Lara; the last completes the series, and its very like'ness renders it necessary to the others. Cawthorne 'writes that they are publishing English Bards in 'Ireland: pray inquire into this; because it must be stopped.'

6

Newstead Abbey, September 7th, 1814. I should think Mr. Hogg, for his own sake as ' well as yours, would be "critical" as Iago himself in 'his editorial capacity; and that such a publication

The following characteristic note, in reference to this passage, appears, in Mr. Gifford's hand-writing, on the copy of the above letter:It is a pity that Lord B. was ignorant of Jonson. The old poet has a Satire on the Court Pucelle that would have supplied him with some * pleasantry on Johanna's pregnancy.'

VOL. II.

H

'would answer his purpose, and yours too, with tole'rable management. You should, however, have a ' good number to start with-I mean, good in quality; in these days, there can be little fear of not coming up to the mark in quantity. There must be many ""fine things" in Wordsworth; but I should think it 'difficult to make six quartos (the amount of the whole) all fine, particularly the pedlar's portion of the poem;

' but there can be no doubt of his powers to do almost 'anything.

"I am "very idle." I have read the few books I had with me, and been forced to fish, for lack of argument. I have caught a great many perch and some carp, which is a comfort, as one would not lose 'one's labour willingly.

Pray, who corrects the press of your volumes? I hope "The Corsair" is printed from the copy I corrected, with the additional lines in the first Canto, ' and some notes from Sismondi and Lavater, which I 'gave you to add thereto. The arrangement is very 'well.

*

'My cursed people have not sent my papers since Sunday, and I have lost Johanna's divorce from 'Jupiter. Who hath gotten her with prophet? Is 'it Sharpe and how? I should like 'to buy one of her seals: if salvation can be had at half-a-guinea a head, the landlord of the Crown and 'Anchor should be ashamed of himself for charging 'double for tickets to a mere terrestrial banquet. I ' am afraid, seriously, that these matters will lend a 'sad handle to your profane scoffers, and give a loose to much damnable laughter.

I have not seen Hunt's Sonnets nor Descent of Liberty he has chosen a pretty place wherein to