Devon 1149M/F94. 4pp. Date at top Aug. 26, 1811

James St

August 26th. 1811

My dear Sir,

Your obliging letter followed me to Ryde, or rather passed me on its route to that place, and then several days have been unfortunately lost; for I turned aside at Chichester to pay a short visit to the widow of my poor friend Hoppner.¹

I thank you for your hints on Stewart's article—all of which I have attended to. The subject, I confess, is one with which I am not very conversant; however, I have done my best, with great care, and I hope you will not disapprove of it. Heber is still rusticating, so that I have no adviser at my elbow.²

While I was at Ryde I desired Murray to send you Ensor & Lord Charlemont,³ which, I hope, he did not neglect to do. I have no means of inquiring, at present, for he is out of town.

I shall be glad to get Lord Charlemont as soon as you have looked it over. I am much pleased with your account of what you have seen; and will deal with it, as you suggest, with a very tender hand. Probably it will stand in need of no alteration—this will please me best.

I know how eager your friends must be to share you, and therefore, happy as I should be, to receive any thing from you, I will not venture to press you. If circumstances allow of any thing before the 12th or 14th of next month, it will come very grateful—but, indeed, you must not sacrifice too much to your wish to befriend us this time.

Your allusion to Macvey's omissions to the second & certainly the most interesting & amusing part, only serve to increase my unavailing regret—I hate to think of it, though I sinned innocently.

I have been spending, en passant, a day or two at Croydon with my friend Ireland. He is meditating more Westminster Lectures of which the course seems interminable. He remembers you with great kindness and pleasure, and, I suspect, looks forward to Oxford.⁴

With the sincerest regard

I remain ever my dear

Sir, your obliged &

faithful servt

Wm. Gifford

[tear]

P.S. I shall hope to hear from you again speedily—according to your promise. Miss Owenson, if you undertake the lady, would be a plaything in your hands. Lord Clarendon, indeed, would be a work de longue haleiné—but let all be as you please

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Address: London twenty seventh August 1811

The Revd. E. Coplestone 

Exeter

John Barrow

Postmark: Crown. Free. 27 Aug 1811