"8. St. James's Street, Dec. 12. 1811.
"Why, Hodgson! I fear you have left off wine and me at the same
time,--I have written and written and written, and no answer! My
dear Sir Edgar, water disagrees with you,--drink sack and write.
Bland did not come to his appointment, being unwell, but M * * e
supplied all other vacancies most delectably. I have hopes of his
joining us at Newstead. I am sure you would like him more and more
as he developes,--at least I do.
"How Miller and Bland go on, I don't know. Cawthorne talks of being
in treaty for a novel of Me. D'Arblay's, and if he obtains it (at
1500 gs.!!) wishes me to see the MS. This I should read with
pleasure,--not that I should ever dare to venture a criticism on
her whose writings Dr. Johnson once revised, but for the pleasure
of the thing. If my worthy publisher wanted a sound opinion, I
should send the MS. to Rogers and M * * e, as men most alive to true
taste. I have had frequent letters from Wm. Harness, and _you_ are
silent; certes, you are not a schoolboy. However, I have the
consolation of knowing that you are better employed, viz.
reviewing. You don't deserve that I should add another syllable,
and I won't. Yours, &c.
"P.S.--I only wait for your answer to fix our meeting."
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