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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1808
Sydney Smith to Francis Jeffrey, [16] June 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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Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Produced by CATH
 
Orchard-street, Feb. 20th, 1808.
My dear Jeffrey,

Your Catholic article of the last Review is, I perceive, printed separately. I am very glad of it: it is excellent, and universally allowed to be so. I envy you your sense, your style, and the good temper with which you attack prejudices that drive me almost to the limits of insanity. The Duke of ——’s agent in Ireland is an Orangeman; and in spite of all the remonstrances of the Duke, who is too indolent or too good-natured to turn him off, he has acted like an
MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.35
Orangeman. What the Duke could not effect, you have done by your review; and the man is now entirely converted to the interests of the Catholics, merely by what you have written upon the subject. This fact Lord Ponsonby told me yesterday.

I have read no article in this number but Dugald Stewart’s ‘Sallust,’ which is not particularly well done. When I have read the Review I will tell you what I think, and what wiser men than I think, of each article.

Of our friend Horner I do not see much. He has four distinct occupations, each of which may very fairly occupy the life of a man not deficient in activity: the Carnatic Commission, the Chancery Bar, Parliament, and a very numerous and select acquaintance. He has, as you perceive by the papers, spoken often and well, without however having as yet done anything decided.

I regret sincerely that so many years have elapsed since we met. I hope, if you possibly can, you will contrive to come to town this spring: we will keep open house for you; you shall not be molested with large parties. You have earned a very high reputation here, and you may eat it out in turbot, at great people’s houses, if you please; though I well know you would prefer the quiet society of your old friends.

Pray tell me whom you see most of, what you do with yourself, what spirits you are in, and every particular about yourself.

I always think of Edinburgh with the greatest pleasure, and always resolve to pay it a visit every Sunday; but want of time and of money have hitherto repressed my noble rage.

Sydney Smith.