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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.
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I shall not get this bad news out of my intestines, where it has
made a lodgement, if I do not give some vent to my vexation. It is very clear to
me that M Wellington
committed a gross blunder in besieging 2000 men at Burgosconfess look the evil in its face, I cannot but see that we have
lost the opportunity which the Russian war afforded us for delivering Spain; –
lost it, I verily believe, irrecoverably. Buonapartes system may xx
receive its death blow in the North, – this is possible enough; – but any
success in that quarter will come as a God-send to us, – advantageous it would
be in the highest degree, but the country would have no part in the honour.
The loss of reputation sustained in Spain at this time is an evil
so great in itself, & so fearful in its consequences that I can hardly bear
to think of it. The old game I fear will now be played over again; the next step
in retreat will be to the Portugueze frontier, & then for a defensive
campaign, which will equally exhaust the blood & the endurance of the
Spaniards, & our resources – & worst of all, our hope.
I do not like M
Wellesley, – but if my voice could make him Premier Premier he should
be tomorrow. The mere fact of keeping such sending such a fellow as
Lord Cathcartxxxx damn any administration.
It will not surprize me if xxx before Xmas the only
remaining advantage of the Victory of Salamanca
Zounds!
________
Grosvenor I will talk of something else, doggedly. I received the remaining half notes.
If you could see Mr Evangelicals application of
Thalaba you would never be able more to ask think of any scriptural
shadowings in the conduct of the poem.
With regard to the sacrifice of Isaac,xxxxxx scriptures: xxxxxx that an
opinion which appears to me utterly untenable, & of the most
mischievous consequences. I believe therefore in the general truth of
the scriptural history, – as I do in that of any other authentic
historical work, – & of course disbelieve altogether such parts as come to
me with a character of incredulity. This is heresy.
The sacrifice of Isaac is said to be typical. There is something
very delightful to a fanciful & ingenious mind in the discovering
types & symbols every where: but any person who knows how the Romanists have
done this will always suspect such xx hidden significations.
I do not know that I believe the story, nor have I thought it of
sufficient importance seriously to ask myself whether I do or not. – If I did
believe it entirely, I should be equally ready to praise Abraham for an act of
faith in his obedience, – or to have praised him for a more
enlightened rational piety, if he had suspected the voice which
ordered the sacrifice, to be a delusion or a temptation.
There is however a parallel in the two cases. Thalaba is not
commanded to kill Laila.Prophet voice from above speaks it tells him that she
must die for him, or he for her. He could not be the being which I have
conceived him to be, if he had made any hesitation.
___
I am busy about the Poor for Gifford, & hope to be in time
for this number.