"Newstead Abbey, Notts., August 23. 1811.
"Sir,
"A domestic calamity in the death of a near relation has hitherto
prevented my addressing you on the subject of this letter.--My
friend, Mr. Dallas, has placed in your hands a manuscript poem
written by me in Greece, which he tells me you do not object to
publishing. But he also informed me in London that you wished to
send the MS. to Mr. Gifford. Now, though no one would feel more
gratified by the chance of obtaining his observations on a work
than myself, there is in such a proceeding a kind of petition for
praise, that neither my pride--or whatever you please to call
it--will admit. Mr. G. is not only the first satirist of the day,
but editor of one of the principal reviews. As such, he is the last
man whose censure (however eager to avoid it) I would deprecate by
clandestine means. You will therefore retain the manuscript in your
own care, or, if it must needs be shown, send it to another. Though
not very patient of censure, I would fain obtain fairly any little
praise my rhymes might deserve, at all events not by extortion, and
the humble solicitations of a bandied about MS. I am sure a little
consideration will convince you it would be wrong.
"If you determine on publication, I have some smaller poems (never
published), a few notes, and a short dissertation on the literature
of the modern Greeks (written at Athens), which will come in at
the end of the volume.--And, if the present poem should succeed, it
is my intention, at some subsequent period, to publish some
selections from my first work,--my Satire,--another nearly the same
length, and a few other things, with the MS. now in your hands, in
two volumes.--But of these hereafter. You will apprize me of your
determination. I am, Sir, your very obedient," &c.
* * * * *