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BL Add. MS 28268, ff. 350–51; extract published in Hart, p. 61; also quoted in part (with minor variants), by Phillips
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editors wish 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.
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Some Genius, whether good or evil I cannot discover, has contrived that you are not to find me at home when you honour me with a call. I am realy vexd, and cannot hit on a better method of mitigating that vexation than by stating, as far as a letter will go, what I have been about, and in what state I find myself now.
I think you have heard of the Bankruptcy of my Bookseller, but you cannot be
supposed to enter with me into all the troubles consequent thereon.—I have
buried a Daughter who
possessd all that I could wish in sense and affection. My wife is a staunch diciple of
Johanna Southcott,
If you calculate dates you will find that last March the Farmers Boy had been publishd fourteen years; and consequently the Bookseller’s half of the Copyright reverted to me, and I spent some anxious weeks in London endeavouring to procure from them a Sum for the continuation of their share for fourteen years to come. I obtaind about half the sum which I suppose their chance is worth.
After this, being much out of health, I went with a friend and neighbour to the Coast
for a few days; saw the Landing of Alexander at Dover, and came home with an increase of strength and
exhilaration. I was not long at home before my Suffolk affairs demanded my
attention and presence. A month has past since I joind with the Farmers and old
friends in my Native Vale, and while there I heard that Mr Baker had again calld, and found me rambling. The world has gone but moderately
with me for three years past. I have a thousand times thought of Uley vally, and of you and Mr Cooper, but always with somthing
very like dispair of ever seeing you again.
Since I have had this sheet in hand, Mrs Walker of this Town has
brought me news, it is not political I assure you, but it concerns me in some
measure, as one of your wellwishers, and if I dare make so free I would say ‘And
so I find Queen Mab has been with you.’? but as I know too
little of Shakespear, and but little of the Lady, I can only wish you joy in the
common way, and declare that I am in earnest in my wish
You would probably, if you saw me, enquire if my mind was still running on new subjects for the Muse? I can give you little satisfaction on that subject, but I somtimes dream that I shall one day venture again before the public somthing in my old manner, some country tales, and spiced with love and courtship might yet please, for Rural life by the art of Cooking may be made a relishing and high flavourd dish, whaever it may be in reality.—
Pray give my best respects to the Seniors of your family, to the Lady of your choice, and the Children, and if you still live near the good folks of Ferney Hill, say that I am amongst the living but sadly remiss in my tasks, for tasks they are, to write long letters. Tell Miss C Cooper, that instead of gliding down the Wye in the character of a Fairy, Time has contrive’d that I should wear a Wig and write with Spectacles. With these double eyes, and a heart that cannot loose its old impressions I Remain Dear Sir. Most Respectfully