My movements would be as regular as the habits of my life, if I had a regular income, & not a contingent one. My ways & means for the next six months depend upon this Book,

& tho it is by no means likely that doubling its size will increase its profits in the same proportion, it was nevertheless quite necessary to extend it. You will not think my time ill employed when you see it. Ten sheets of the second volume are printed, & the printer has about five more in his hands. I am now in Elizabeths reign,

& nearly at the end of it, – there is about the third part of a volume to write, – but I will not pretend to say when I shall have compleated it.

This work has lead me thro the whole of Strypes voluminous collections,

& there, of course, I have noted many things which bear upon other subjects. I find there that Osorius, when he replied to Haddon’s answer to his attack upon the English Church, inserted in his book some caricatures of Haddon: – the earliest mention of such things which has fallen in my way, – & therefore I should like to see the book.

Very possibly it may be found at Lambeth,

& there I will look for it.

The Marquis has written to me with a large request for autographs I will answer his demand shortly. – We will talk about Erroll when we meet. I reckon very little upon my interest anywhere, except with Wynn, – & Tom, I am sorry to say, has done me no good, by presuming upon it, without my knowledge. But it is possible that if the same persons should be in power a few years hence, a situation might be found for him in one of the public offices, if it were thought desirable. I think I can reckon, thro Bedford, upon Herries’s good offices. If this destination should be thought of, Westminster would be better than Winchester, were it only as being nearer home, & nothing would be gained by his going into College.

I have heard nothing concerning Gifford

except what you tell me. It can never do for Murray to let his review be kept in this state of abeyance. The great man himself is gracious toward me, – which implies that he is satisfied with the success of the history,

& in good hopes from the next adventure. He manifests this graciousness by sending some of his new publications, as the Longmen manifest a different temper by not doing so. They are out of humour at finding the history has proved a good concern after (if Murrays account be accurate) they had shuffled out of it, thinking it was a day after the fair. – Murray has sent me Batty’s Campaign in the Pyrenees, of some use as a book, & much interest for the prints.

I have received Westalls at last.

The view of Cintra I think must have been taken from the road below your house.

My annual cold has made its appearance, & I am resisting it, according to the D^rs directions. To day I am on the tonic system, fortifying with bark

in hope of keeping it off tomorrow.