95 — To the Rev. John Becher

Dorant's, March 28, 1808.

I have lately received a copy of the new edition from Ridge, and it is high time for me to return my best thanks to you for the trouble you have taken in the superintendence. This I do most sincerely, and only regret that Ridge has not seconded you as I could wish, — at least, in the bindings, paper, etc., of the copy he sent to me. Perhaps those for the public may be more respectable in such articles.

You

have seen the

Edinburgh Review

, of course. I regret that Mrs. Byron is so much annoyed. For my own part, these "paper bullets of the brain" have only taught me to stand fire; and, as I have been lucky enough upon the whole, my repose and appetite are not discomposed. Pratt

, the gleaner, author, poet, etc., etc., addressed a long rhyming epistle to me on the subject, by way of consolation; but it was not well done, so I do not send it, though the name of the man might make it go down. The

E. Rs

. have not performed their task well; at least the literati tell me this; and I think

could write a more sarcastic critique on

myself

than any yet published. For instance, instead of the remark, — ill-natured enough, but not keen, — about Macpherson, I (quoad reviewers) could have said,

"Alas, this imitation only proves the assertion of Dr. Johnson, that many men, women, and children, could write such poetry as Ossian's."

I am

thin

and in exercise. During the spring or summer I trust we shall meet. I hear Lord Ruthyn leaves Newstead in April. As soon as he quits it for ever, I wish much you would take a ride over, survey the mansion, and give me your candid opinion on the most advisable mode of proceeding with regard to the

house

Entre nous

, I am cursedly dipped; my debts,

every

thing inclusive, will be nine or ten thousand before I am twenty-one. But I have reason to think my property will turn out better than general expectation may conceive. Of Newstead I have little hope or care; but Hanson, my agent, intimated my Lancashire property was worth three Newsteads. I believe we have it hollow; though the defendants are protracting the surrender, if possible, till after my majority, for the purpose of forming some arrangement with me, thinking I shall probably prefer a sum in hand to a reversion. Newstead I may

sell

; — perhaps I will not, — though of that more anon. I will come down in May or June.

Yours most truly, etc.

Footnote 1:

Samuel Jackson Pratt (1749-1814), actor, itinerant lecturer, poet of the Cruscan school, tragedian, and novelist, published a large number of volumes. His

Gleanings

in England, Holland, Wales, and Westphalia attained some reputation. His

Sympathy, a Poem

(1788) passed through several editions. His stage-name, as well as his

nom de plume

, was Courtney Melmoth. He was the discoverer and patron of the cobbler-poet, Blacket (see also

English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers

, line 319,

note

2).

return to footnote mark

cross-reference: return to Footnote 1 of Letter 154

Footnote 2:

"Dr. Johnson's reply to the friend who asked him if any man

living

could have written such a book, is well known: 'Yes, sir; many men, many women, and many children.' I inquired of him myself if this story was authentic, and he said it was" (Mrs. Piozzi,

Johnsoniana

, p. 84). — [Moore.]

List of Letters