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Huntington Library, HM 4831 . Previously published: J. W. Robberds (ed.), A Memoir of the Life and Writings of the Late William Taylor of Norwich, 2 vols (London, 1843), I, pp. 377-380.
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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Amid the bustle & everlasting motion in which of late I have been engaged, I have neglected to apprize you of my goings on. partly indeed trusting that Henry would learn every thing worth knowing from his Mother.
Soon after my letter to him I joined my friends in Wales. we made
what was designed to be our first journey, which terminated at Llangedwin, Wynns abode. there I found a letter
inviting me to Ireland to become Corrys private Secretary for one year. the term prudently limited
lest we should not suit each other. the proffered salary 400£ Irish. about 350
English, of which the half was specified as travelling expences. my
circumstances neither required nor allowed hesitation. So after touching at Keswick twice, on my road to & from
Dublin, here I am in my scribe
capacity. My friend Rickmans
acquaintance with Corry brought this
about. he is Secretary to Abbot.most men whom I
most esteem for his whole moral & intellectual character
I have been a week in town, & in that time have learnt
something. the civilities which already have been shown me discover how much I
have been abhorred for all that is valuable in my nature. such civilities excite
more contempt than anger – but they make me think more despicably of the world
than I would wish to do. As if this were a baptism that purified me of all
Jacobinical sins – a regeneration – & the one congratulates me, & the
other visits me, as if the author of Joan of Arc & of Thalaba
I suppose my situation by all these symptoms to be a good one.
for a more ambitious man doubtless very desirable, tho the ladder is longer than
I design to climb. my principles & habits are happily enough settled. My
objects in life are leisure to do nothing but write, & competence to write
at leisure, & my notions of competence do not exceed 300 a year. – Mr Corry is a man
of gentle & reconciling manners. fitter men for his purpose he doubtless
might have found in some respects – none more so in regularity & dispatch.
the newspapers I hear are at me – I am used to flea bites, & never scratch a
pimple to a sore.
Doubtless you have seen the British Critics Review of
Thalaba.r Geddes
Burnett is at work for
Phillips.r Mavorat
hand <ready> – like the Bank it has cash – but alas! not payable
on demand.
I wait my books & papers before I can be comfortably
industrious – to correct Madoc – & proceed with the Curse of Kehama
Do you come to London this winter? If I had the Wishing Cap
Right Honble
&c &c &c
Duke Street – Westminster –
<there is much meaning in the and pussey ands.