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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1808
Sydney Smith to Francis Jeffrey, 20 November 1808
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Author's Preface
Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Index
Editor’s Preface
Letters 1801
Letters 1802
Letters 1803
Letters 1804
Letters 1805
Letters 1806
Letters 1807
Letters 1808
Letters 1809
Letters 1810
Letters 1811
Letters 1812
Letters 1813
Letters 1814
Letters 1815
Letters 1816
Letters 1817
Letters 1818
Letters 1819
Letters 1820
Letters 1821
Letters 1822
Letters 1823
Letters 1824
Letters 1825
Letters 1826
Letters 1827
Letters 1828
Letters 1829
Letters 1830
Letters 1831
Letters 1832
Letters 1833
Letters 1834
Letters 1835
Letters 1836
Letters 1837
Letters 1838
Letters 1839
Letters 1840
Letters 1841
Letters 1842
Letters 1843
Letters 1844
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York, Nov. 20th, 1808.
My dear Jeffrey,

It is a very long time since I answered your letter, but I have been choked by the cares of the world. I
44MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
came down here for a couple of days, to look at two places which were to be let, and have been detained here in pursuit of them for ten or twelve days. The place I am aiming at is one mile and a half from York; a convenient house and garden, with twelve acres of land. This will do for me very well while I am building at Foston, where I shall, in all human probability, spend the rest of my days. I am by no means grieved at quitting London; sorry to lose the society of my friends, but wishing for more quiet, more leisure, less expense, and more space for my children. I am extremely pleased with what I have seen of York.

About the University of Oxford, I doubt; but you shall have it, if I can possibly find time for it. I am publishing fifty sermons at present, which take up some considerable share of my attention: much more, I fear, than they will of any other person.

I am very glad that the chances of life have brought us two hundred miles nearer together. It is really a fortunate circumstance, that, in quitting London, where I have pushed so many roots, I should be brought again within the reach of the bed from which I was transplanted.

I return to town next Friday, and leave it for good on Lady-day. Mrs. Sydney is delighted with her rustication. She has suffered all the evils of London, and enjoyed none of its goods.

Yours, dear Jeffrey, ever most truly,
Sydney Smith.