LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1842
Sydney Smith to Sir George Philips, 6 February 1842
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
GO TO PAGE NUMBER:
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
Creative Commons License

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Produced by CATH
 
Combe Florey, Feb. 6th, 1842.
My dear Philips,

I have suffered a great deal this winter from dulness and ennui. I am not one of those mortals that have “infinite resources in themselves,” but am fitted up with the commonest materials, and require to be amused. However, I shall soon be in London, where I will take my revenge. Hibbert not being here, I have had no one to argue with. The neighbouring
462MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
clergy never attempt it, or they are checkmated the second or third move. Such sort of rumours as you allude to are disagreeable, especially to young people, who imagine mankind have left off hunting, shooting, and ploughing, to speculate upon them.

Are you not struck with the diplomatic gallantry of Lord Ashburton? He resembles Regulus. I tell him that the real cause of the hostility of America is, that we are more elegant, and speak better English than they do.

The opening of the Session was very milk-and-watery. The secession of the —— is a great accession of strength to Peel. —— is, besides his violence, a weak, foolish man. I met him two or three times at Mr. ——’s, and have no doubt that he is anserous and asinine.

I want very much to write something, but cannot bring myself to do it,—principally from the great number of topics which offer themselves, all of which would be equally agreeable to me. I am very glad you have thrown away your last fit of gout. Considering your dreadful indulgences in the second course, I think they have let you off very easily. Mrs. Sydney has certainly taken a new lease. She is become less, can walk, and has much more enjoyment of life. I am very well, asthma excepted. God bless you, dear Philips!

I remain, your old and sincere friend,
Sydney Smith.