“. . . . . I have been obliged to complain to Gifford of the mutilations which he has made in this paper. Pray recover the manuscript if you can; or, what would be better, the set of proof sheets. It is very provoking to have an historical paper of that kind, which, perhaps, no person in England but myself could have written, treated like a schoolboy’s theme. Vexed however as I am, I have too much liking for Gifford to be angry with him, and have written to him in a manner which will prove this. . . . .
“Your godson,
thank God, is going on well, and his father has nothing to complain of except
indeed that he gets more praise than pudding. I had a letter last night which
would amuse you. A certain H. Fisher,
‘printer in ordinary to his Majesty,’ of Caxton Printing Office,
Liverpool, writes to bespeak of me a memoir of his present Majesty in one or
two volumes octavo, pica type, longprimer notes, terms five guineas per sheet;
and as the work will be sold principally among the middle class of society,
| Ætat. 45. | OF ROBERT SOUTHEY. | 363 |
“A Yankee also, who keeps an exhibition at Philadelphia, modestly asks me to send him my painted portrait, which, he says, is very worthy of a place in his collection. I am to have the pleasure of sitting for the picture and paying for it, and he is to show it in Yankee land, admittance so much!
“God bless you!
