I do not recollect whether I have given you joy of your son

or not; – for without talking extravagantly or madly upon the subject, where there is a fair prospect that a child will be fairly set forward in the world, its birth is a subject for congratulation. Besides it is a joyful change in a house when all is “as well as can be expected.”

The letter for Sir William comes herewith.

Will you tell Murray where a copy can be directed to Haygarth,

to whom one is due for some materials which he communicated.

If the King would make me a present of the publications of the Record Committee

they would be well bestowed. & I want too many costly books for my historical pursuits, & these are among them. Wherever original documents are within my reach I go to them; & it is surprizing how much I find there which has been overlooked. My gleanings are often worth more than the harvest of those who have been before me. Something of this you will see in the B of the Church,

at which I have been chiefly employed since your departure.

You must know <more> concerning the QR.

at this time than I do. A note from Murray some fortnight ago let me know that he was well disposed toward John Coleridge, & waited till he could talk with Gifford upon the subject. – & I have heard nothing since from any quarter. If he understood his own interest, there could not be a moments hesitation. What with Giffords indifference in all matters of taste – (where if he had any leaning it was to the wrong side) with his admission of mischievous articles, such as those relating to America, & of the sermons of the Dean of Westminster

(to whom I ascribe the discourse on Lord Byron in the last number)

& what with the disgraceful temper in which some of his own papers were written, & som the Review might easily decline as rapidly as it had risen.

There is a passage from my tender epistle quoted in the last number.

It is curious that that very passage should have been originally written for the review, & struck out of it by the Editor.

I will tell you another anecdote. Lord Holland has lately edited Sir Charles Hanbury Williams’s poems.

They were put into my hands for that purpose in 1802; – & I refused to have any part in bringing them out because of their profligacy.

Your precepts have been observed as regularly as a series of dreadfully tempestuous weather would let me; – at some expence of time, but with less effort, as it becomes a habit. I was over the Dod

some ten days ago with Senhouse. The boat is now laid upon the island, not having been used since your departure, – for there literally has not been one day pleasant enough for going on the water.

I should be very glad to hear of John Coleridges accession, which if Gifford continues to be incapacitated, cannot be deferred much longer. – To day I have a letter from John May – dated Falmouth, – – it contains a promise of strong beer, – for which you know I have a weakness. Never was man more mistaken in his prognosis than Chauncy Townsends father

when he supposed me to be a water drinker.

I have a proper taste for all pleasant liquors, in their place & season, – from bottled twopenny

in the heat of summer, up to the purest whiskey “unexcised by Kings.”

– But Rhenish wine

is best, & so Pindar

would have said if he had ever tasted it.