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Huntington Library, RS 142. 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.
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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I had yesterday a visit from the Scotch Bookseller Ballantyne ,
who in consequence of something which I said in a letter to W Scott has formally
proposed to me to undertake a Review of old Books – i.e of all except contemporary ones, – to come forth quarterly in crown number, the
Editorship 100 £ a year, the writing ten guineas per sheet.Rhadamanthus.
Such a volume would suit me better than any other lucre-of-gain work, inasmuch I should do exactly what pleased me,
& having the power editorial in my own hands should be in no danger of mutilation, – xxxxx If it takes effect as I
believe it will, can you create time to send some sound opinions into the world thro this medium? taking what text you will – There is
Herodotus who wants to be read by you – save time by reading Littleburys translationxxx our poetry. But above all, what I should most
desire from you should be <is> something upon those political principles which are universal.
I shall go to Wm T. for some of his politics, – his oddities. To
the Rose of Sharon for a Saga, & a Welsh bard, & when things are fairly
arranged I will endeavour to persuade Lamb to put some money in his pocket by this
easy way, for in no other manner can so much be got by authorship – unless a man had Scotts Goose, – who lays bigger eggs than ever.
This Chapter 12 is for Hereford as before.
I am xxxx writing in thunder lightning & in haste. – You will perceive that I have used Drakeproves to be a liar.