If Turner to whom I wrote upon the subject the day before yesterday,

should think it advisable xxx xxxx to prosecute the M. Chronicle for the <its> atrocious attack upon me in the paper of Friday the 17^th he will have communicated with you, – for to you it is that I would trust the cause.

If however he should be of opinion that it is better to let the slander alone, you will in that case not hear from him. The single charge of blasphemous obscenities is that upon which I should rest, as what must be deemed plainly & infamously libellous, – if justice is ever to be obtained by law.

It was not till just now that I could imagine upon what this could possibly be founded, – but I now perceive that it must be upon – literally, an extract from an English Roman Catholic Book of devotions to the Virgin Mary, in the first vol. of the Omniana.

The other charges are quite unworthy of notice when compared to this most devilish one: but should any proceedings be instituted they will make good garnish, & I will then write to you concerning them.

Murray wrote to me last week a sort of official notification that when the little which remained to negotiate should be settled; there was every probability that you would consent to accept the Editorship:

& he asked me in the meantime to write upon the subject to Croker & Canning, as persons whose confidence it was of great importance to obtain. I readily promised this with regard to the former (& in fact have written)

but gave him my reasons why I should not address M^r Canning. In the first place I do not chuse to affect any importance with any one (especially with a person so high in office) upon the score of my supposed influence in the QR. And in the next, as I told Murray, the time cannot be far off, in which the QR must make its choice between M^r Canning & the Church.

For if his scheme of bringing in the Whigs should succeed, the country must be divided upon the Catholick question; – even if that question be not sooner brought to a crisis by the forth-coming rebellion in Ireland.

I had begun to apprehend that I had done you some hurt by my interference. Murray has been plainly out of humour with me ever since I left London: (wherefore, I neither know nor care) – & upon his writing a very to me some very silly objections to my reviewal of Hayley’s life – which I answered at length,

I took occasion to speak in strong terms upon the present state of the Review, & to tell him that I would write under no mans correction. At the same time I repeated on what grounds I believed that the Review could not be entrusted to any person so qualified to conduct it as yourself. The only note which I have received from him since was formal & respectful; – & I suppose he will come round to his usual civility when the crotchet (whatever it be), which has got into his head, shall have got out of it.

But tho I spoke to him roundly about in resentment of the usage which my papers have sometimes received, – you will to you I say that at any time I will strike out anything which you may desire to have expunged. I have opportunity enough for saying upon my own responsibility any thing which I may think fit to say; – & am moreover <at all times> likelier to err by being too easily persuaded, than by turning a deaf ear to advice. The first thing you will have from me will be an article upon Sara’s translation of Bayards Memoirs.

The next upon the Church Missionary Society,

– & I want also, on the publication of poor Bloomfields life, to give his family what help I can thro the Review.

I had a great respect for that poor man: & can make a paper concerning him to good effect. When you are fairly installed as Sir Editor, I shall be in more frequent communication with you that I ever was with Gifford. You shall then know all my intentions, & may depend upon me at any time – & to any extent.

The Tale of Paraguay is nearly finished – to my great joy. My second volume of the war will soon be half printed, & my Colloquies will go to press as soon as the prints which are to accompany them are in any forwardness.

Sara’s eyes are not worse, nor could it be known by merely looking at them that they ailed any thing. She is thin, but not I think out of health, & certainly not in bad spirits. Bayard no doubt will sell, & my poem will carry off for her the remaining copies of Dobrizhoffer.