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Samuel Rogers and his Contemporaries
Francis Jeffrey to Samuel Rogers, 30 July 1819
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
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Preface
Vol. I Contents
Chapter I. 1803-1805.
Chapter II. 1805-1809.
Chapter III. 1810-1812.
Chapter IV. 1813-1814.
Chapter V. 1814-1815.
Chapter VI. 1815-1816.
Chapter VII. 1816-1818.
Chapter VIII. 1818-19.
Chapter IX. 1820-1821.
Chapter X. 1822-24.
Chapter XI. 1825-1827.
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I. 1828-1830.
Chapter II. 1831-34.
Chapter III. 1834-1837.
Chapter IV. 1838-41.
Chapter V. 1842-44.
Chapter VI. 1845-46.
Chapter VII. 1847-50.
Chapter VIII. 1850
Chapter IX. 1851.
Chapter X. 1852-55.
Index
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‘Edinburgh: 30 July, 1819.

‘My dear Sir,—I have been very much shocked and distressed by observing in the newspaper the great pecuniary calamity which has fallen on our excellent friend Moore, and not being able to get any distinct information either as to its extent, or its probable consequences, from anybody here, I have thought it best to relieve my anxiety by applying to you, whose kind concern in him must both have made you acquainted with all the particulars, and willing, I hope, to satisfy the enquiries of one who sincerely shares in that concern. I do not know, however, that I should have troubled you merely to answer an useless enquiry; but in wishing to know whether any steps have been taken to mitigate this disaster, I am desirous of knowing also whether I can be of any use on the occasion. I have, unfortunately, not a great deal of money to spare. But if it should be found practicable to relieve him from this unmerited distress by any contribution, I beg leave to say that I shall think it an honour to be allowed to take share in it to the extent of 300l. or 500l., and that I could advance more than double the sum named above upon any reasonable security of ultimate repayment, however long postponed.

‘I am quite aware of the difficulty of carrying through
292 ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES  
any such arrangement with a man of
Moore’s high feelings and character, and had he been unmarried and without children he might have been less reluctantly left to the guidance and support of that character. But as it is, I think his friends are bound to make an effort to prevent such lasting and extended misery as, from what I have heard, seems now to be impending, and in hands at once so kind and so delicate as yours I flatter myself that this may be found practicable. I need not add, I am sure, that I am most anxious that, whether ultimately acted upon or not, this communication should never be mentioned to Moore himself. If you please, you may tell him that I have been deeply distressed by his misfortunes, and should be most happy to do him any service. But as I have no right to speak to him of money, I do not think he should know that I have spoken of it to you. If my offer is accepted, I shall consider you and not him as the acceptor, and he ought not to be burdened with the knowledge of any other benefactor.

‘Is there no chance of seeing you in Scotland again? We have had a sad loss in Playfair1—and one quite irreparable to our society here. It is a comfort to think that we cannot possibly have such another. We had a great fright about Scott too, but fortunately he is quite recovered.

‘I have a sort of project of running over to Paris again

1 John Playfair, F.R.S., the eminent mathematician and physicist, died on the 19th of July 1819, in his seventy-second year. He was an Edinburgh Reviewer, and Professor of Mathematics, and afterwards of Natural Philosophy, in the University of Edinburgh. His cousin, the Principal of St. Andrews University, was grandfather of the Right Hon. Sir Lyon Playfair, K.C.B., F.R.S., &c.

CRABBE ON 'HUMAN LIFE'293
this autumn. If I had a chance of finding you in the Rue de Rivoli, I should not hesitate a moment. I am not quite so insensible to the advantages of that encounter as I appeared to be,—and yet I have a thousand times since reproached myself for having made too little use of them. Believe me always,

‘Your obliged and very faithful servant, &c.,

F. Jeffrey.’