"January 15. 1814.
"Before any proof goes to Mr. Gifford, it may be as well to revise
this, where there are _words omitted_, faults committed, and the
devil knows what. As to the dedication, I cut out the parenthesis
of _Mr._[9], but not another word shall move unless for a better.
Mr. Moore has seen, and decidedly preferred the part your Tory bile
sickens at. If every syllable were a rattle-snake, or every letter
a pestilence, they should not be expunged. Let those who cannot
swallow chew the expressions on Ireland; or should even Mr. Croker
array himself in all his terrors them, I care for none of you,
except Gifford; and he won't abuse me, except I deserve it--which
will at least reconcile me to his justice. As to the poems in
Hobhouse's volume, the translation from the Romaic is well enough;
but the best of the other volume (of _mine_, I mean) have been
already printed. But do as you please--only, as I shall be absent
when you come out, _do_, _pray_, let Mr. _Dallas_ and _you_ have a
care of the _press_. Yours," &c.
[Footnote 9: He had at first, after the words "Scott alone," inserted,
in a parenthesis,--"He will excuse the _Mr._----'we do not say _Mr._
Cæsar.'"]
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