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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1818
Sydney Smith to John Whishaw, 13 April 1818
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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Foston, April 13th, 1818.
My dear Whishaw,

I am very much obliged to you for your kind offer; I have however made numerous inquiries, and believe I am tolerably well instructed in the ways of Westminster school. If any of your friends have a son at Westminster, who is a boy of conduct and parts, I should be much obliged to you to recommend Douglas* to his protection; he has never been at school, and the change is greater perhaps than any other he will experience in his future life.

My astonishment was very great at reading Canning’s challenge to the anonymous pamphleteer. If it were the first proof of the kind, it would be sufficient to create a general distrust of his sense, prudence, and capacity for action. What sympathy can a wit by profession, a provoker and a discoverer of other men’s weaknesses, expect for his literary woes? What does a politician know of his trade, when twenty years have not made him pamphlet-proof? I cannot form a guess who has written a pamphlet that could provoke Canning to such a reply: I should scarcely suppose any producible person; but I have not read it, and am therefore talking at random.

* Mr. Smith’s eldest son.

154 MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.

Our excellent friend —— appears to have been somewhat hasty upon the subject of the spy in the one-horse chair, drawn by the warrior; but his conduct was very manly and respectable, in advocating the cause of the poor democrats, who by their knavery and folly are very contemptible, but are not therefore to be abandoned to their oppressors. I have been fighting up against agricultural difficulties, and endeavouring to do well what I am compelled to do; but I believe the first receipt to farm well is, to be rich.

Soon after the 12th of May I hope to see you, and shall be happy to converse with you upon the subject of our poor friend’s papers; though the general leaning of my mind is to have his fame where it now stands, upon its political base.

Hertford College is really a paradox.

Of Hallam’s labour and accuracy I have no doubt; I like and respect him as much as you do; his success will please me very much.

I remain, my dear Whishaw, very truly yours,

Sydney Smith.