"September 27. 1812.
"I have just received your very kind letter, and hope you have met
with a second copy corrected and addressed to Holland House, with
some omissions and this new couplet,
"As glared each rising flash[52], and ghastly shone
The skies with lightnings awful as their own.
As to remarks, I can only say I will alter and acquiesce in any
thing. With regard to the part which Whitbread wishes to omit, I
believe the Address will go off _quicker_ without it, though, like
the agility of the Hottentot, at the expense of its vigour. I leave
to your choice entirely the different specimens of stucco-work; and
a _brick_ of your own will also much improve my Babylonish turret.
I should like Elliston to have it, with your leave. 'Adorn' and
'mourn' are lawful rhymes in Pope's Death of the unfortunate
Lady.--Gray has 'forlorn' and 'mourn;'--and 'torn' and 'mourn' are
in Smollet's famous Tears of Scotland.
"As there will probably be an outcry amongst the rejected, I hope
the committee will testify (if it be needful) that I sent in
nothing to the congress whatever, with or without a name, as your
Lordship well knows. All I have to do with it is with and through
you; and though I, of course, wish to satisfy the audience, I do
assure you my first object is to comply with your request, and in
so doing to show the sense I have of the many obligations you have
conferred upon me. Yours ever, B."
[Footnote 52: At present, "As glared the volumed blaze."]
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