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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1829
Sydney Smith to —— Bedford, 13 January 1829
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, Jan. 13th, 1829.
Dear Sir,

I always intended to explain to you why I declined to be Steward to the dinner given for the Charity of the Sons of the Clergy, but it went out of my head while I was at Bristol.

I object to the whole plan of the thing. It appears
294MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
to me quite ridiculous to desire two men to pay for a charity dinner, where actually, in many instances, less is collected during the dinner than the dinner costs. Men who mean to patronize a charity should dine at their own costs; the use of Stewards would then be, to guarantee the innkeeper that he should not be a loser by providing dinner for a certain number of persons.

If two gentlemen were to give such a guarantee to the extent of £15 or £20 each, this would be a fair tax upon their time, trouble, and pocket; but to ask any man to give a dinner for charitable purposes, where the guests coming for charitable purposes do not give the value of what they eat and drink, is an abuse which I never will countenance. It is in vain to say money is sent after dinner; so it would be if all paid for their dinner. If ever this alteration be made, and I am wanted as Steward, I will serve, or be at the expense of serving; but not till I have seen the amended plan.

I write this to you, not as Secretary to the Society, but as a neighbour and an acquaintance; because, though I have a right to say to the Society, yes or no, I have no right to criticize their institutions, or to propose to them any change in their plans. My motive for taking the part I have done, is, not only that I have no money to fling away upon institutions so faulty in their construction (however excellent their principle), but because I believe I am expressing the opinion of many persons who are too timid to express it themselves, and who would feel the expense as a great and unprofitable burden. I remain, dear Sir, with sincere good wishes, yours,

Sydney Smith