Thank you very kindly for your obliging invitation to me and Mrs. Smith. Nothing would give Mrs. Sydney more pleasure than to make your acquaintance, and I am sure you would not find her unworthy of it; but the care of her young family, and the certain conviction, if she leaves them for a day, that they are all dead, necessarily confines her a good deal at home. Some lucky chance may however enable her hereafter to pay her respects to you; and she will, I am sure, avail herself of it with great pleasure.
If you and Lord Grey (little tempted by raree-shows) can be tempted to see York Minster, you must allow us to do the honours. We are on the road. We are about equal to a-second-rate inn, as Mrs. Sydney says; but I think, myself, we are equal to any inn on the North Road, except Ferry-bridge.
The Archbishop of
York not only votes for Lord
Grenville, but has passed upon him and his ecclesiastical
propensities a warm panegyric, which he has read to me, has sent to Oxford, and
dispersed everywhere.
| MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. | 77 |
My discourse will be finished tomorrow, and shall be forthwith sent. I am obliged to you for your opinion of my orthodoxy, which I assure you is no more than I deserve. As for being a bishop, that I shall never be; but I shall, I believe, be quite as happy a man as any bishop.
I remain, dear Lady Grey, very sincerely and respectfully yours,
P.S.—I am performing miracles in my parish with garlic for hooping-cough.
