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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1809
Sydney Smith to John Allen, 21 February 1809
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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February 21st, 1809.
Dear Allen,

I have received from you two or three very kind
MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.51
letters, for which I thank you; and should have done so before, had I not taken a gay turn lately, and meddled much in the amusements of the town.

I am glad to find that it has pleased Providence to restore you to your reason, and that you are coming home. You may depend upon it, there is no country like this for beauty, and steadiness of climate, as well as for agrémens of manners; we are a gay people, living under a serene heaven.

I have had thoughts of writing a political pamphlet, but have adjourned it to another year. From time to time I will make a resolute and lively charge upon the enemy.

The Edinburgh Review for February is come. It is the best, I think, that has appeared for a long time; ‘Burns and Warburton,’ by Jeffrey; ‘Code de la Conscription,’ by Walsh, Secretary to the American Ambassador; ‘Spanish America,’ by a Mr. Mill;* ‘Society for the Suppression of Vice,’ by a Mr. Sydney Smith; ‘West Indies,’ by Brougham; ‘Steam Engine,’ by Playfair; ‘Sanscrit Grammar,’ by Hamilton; ‘Copenhagen,’ I believe, ditto. The Quarterly Review is out also; not good, I hear.

The division upon the Orders in Council has surprised everybody, and St. Stephen told Brougham he thought it decisive of their repeal. Three bishops voted with Lord Grenville. Something of this division may be attributed to Mrs. Clarke and the Duke. The conversation of the town for the last fortnight has, as you may suppose, been extremely improper. I

* James Mill, Esq., author of ‘British India.’ Mr. Mill was intimately acquainted with General Miranda, from whom he doubtless derived much, information about Spanish America.—Ed.

52MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
have endeavoured as much as I can to give it a little tinge of propriety, but without effect. I think the Duke of York must fall. Believe me, my dear Allen, ever yours most truly,

Sydney Smith.