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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1812
Sydney Smith to Francis Jeffrey, September 1812
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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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
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September, 1812.
My dear Jeffrey,

I have to thank you for many kind letters, which I would have answered sooner, but that I have been expecting the Review, upon which I wished to offer you my opinion.

I like the review of Malcolm very much; there is such an appearance of profound knowledge of the sub-
96MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
ject, joined to so very gentlemanlike a spirit of forbearance, that it gives me considerable pleasure. I liked very much the article on Peace, and the review on Miss Edgeworth; John Knox I have not yet read. I am very glad you like my review of the Negotiation; pray tell me if it is much complained of by the Whigs. I shall not regret having written it if it is; but if I reconcile the interests of truth with the feelings of party, so much the better; I am sure it is the good sense and justice of the question.

Whilst I write, our poor, amiable old friend is mouldering in her tomb; I had a most sincere affection for her, and such a friend I shall not soon replace, and I feel the loss with very sincere grief. Miss —— is deeply affected: she is made up of fine feelings, and her mother filled her whole heart and soul.

I know not how to rejoice in the useless splendour of Lord Wellington’s achievements, for I am quite a disbeliever in his ultimate success; but I am incapable of thinking of anything but building, and my whole soul is filled up by lath and plaster.

Mrs. Fletcher has been here and dined with us,—self and spouse. I was surprised to find her unaffected, and more sensible than from her blazing sort of reputation I had supposed to be the case; more handsome, too, than I had judged her in Edinburgh: in short, she produced a very agreeable impression both upon Mrs. Sydney and me.

I see Seymour is selling his Scotch place. I am glad to find you are in the country, for then I am sure you are happy. Yours affectionately,

Sydney Smith.