With the inculpative part of your criticisms on mine I very much agree; and, in particular, am so well aware of that excessive levity into which I am apt to run, that I think I shall correct it.
Upon the point of severity, I beg you to recollect the
facts. That —— is a very stupid and a
very contemptible fellow no one pretends to deny. He has been hangman for these
ten years to all the poor authors in England, is generally considered to be
hired by Government, and has talked about Social Order till he has talked
himself into £600 or £700 per annum. That there can be a fairer object for
critical severity I cannot conceive; and though he be not notorious in
Edinburgh, he is certainly so in London. If you think that the violence of the
attack may induce the generality of readers to sympathize with the sufferer
rather than
MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. | 5 |
You say the readers will think my review long. Probably. If it is amusing, they will not: if it is dull, I am sorry for it,—but I can write no better. I am so desirous of attacking this time-serving ——, that I cannot consent to omit this article, unless my associates consider their moral and religious characters committed by it; at the same time, I will, with great pleasure, attempt to modify it.
I am very much obliged to you for your animadversions on my inaccuracies, and should be obliged to you also to correct them. One of the instances you mention is rather awkward than incorrect, but had better be amended. I wrote my views exactly as you see them; though I certainly made these blunders, not in consequence of neglect, but in spite of attention.
I will come over soon if I can, not to detect Scotticisms, but to enjoy the company of Scotchmen. Just now I am expecting Dugald Stewart and his spouse.
I have been so very bitter lately against authors, and find
so much of the infusum amarum still
remaining in my style, that I am afraid you will not think my answer to your
expostulation a very gracious one. If you do think so, pray think otherwise:
you cannot be too candid with me. You will very often find me too vain for
correction, but never so blind to the value of a frank and manly character as
not to feel real
6 | MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. |
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