James St

March 13th 1811

My dear Sir

In tumbling over some papers, I lighted on an extract, which I had preserved, from a letter of Dr Whitaker.

He mentions some of the attacks which had been made on him—and says "these people are ^utterly ignorant of what the reviewer of the work ought to know—that many moderns have written History in the same language. One most elegant writer, Bishop Wishart, the Historian of Montrose whom I have made my Pattern,¹ appears to be completely forgotten". This, I observe, is dated Jan^y 8th.

I must apologise for troubling you with this petty sample, which is, perhaps, of no worth to you; but I was desirous of communicating what I had.—Ever, dear Sir,

yours most truly

Wm. Gifford

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Address:

[in another hand:] London Thirteenth March 1811

The Rev d E Copleston

Oriel Coll

Oxford

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John Barrow

Postmark: Crown, Free, 13 Mar 1811