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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1811
Sydney Smith to Lady Grey, 13 January 1811
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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Heslington, York, Jan. 13th, 1811.
Dear Lady Grey,

This comes to say that you must not be out of spirits on account of Lord Grey’s going to town; but
82MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
rather thank Providence that you did not marry one of those stupid noblemen who are never sent for to town on any occasion. Mrs. —— never loses Mr. ——; Mr. —— lives with Mrs. ——; and why? Who wants their assistance? What good could they do in any human calamity? Who would send for them, even to consult about losing a tooth? So that the temporary loss of Lord Grey is his glory and yours, and the common good. And you are bound to remain quietly in your Red Bell* till you become strong enough for travelling. If you are haunted by scruples too difficult for Mr. —— (alas! how easily may anything be too difficult for Mr. ——!), then pray send for me.

As I know what a pleasure it is to you to hear or read any good praise of Lord Grey, I send you an extract from Mr. Horner’s letter to me this day. “Lord Grey’s absence, though scarcely excusable, has done no harm. He is decidedly at the head of the great aristocracy, including not only Whigs, but a great many Tories. I wish he were * * * he wants only that, to give him the power of doing more good, and commanding greater influence, than any man has done since the time of Fox. He deserves all the praises bestowed upon him. A more upright, elevated, gallant mind there cannot be; but * * * and will not condescend to humour them, and pardon them for their natural infirmities; nor is aware that both people and Prince must be treated like children.”

You may fill up the blanks as you like; but if you valued Mr. Horner’s understanding and integrity one

* A room of Lady Grey’s, so called by Mr. Sydney Smith, exactly the size of the large bell at Moscow.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.83
half as much as I do, you would, I am sure, value this praise.

A pheasant a day is very fattening diet: such has been my mode of living for these last few days. I was poetical enough, though, to think I had seen them out of my window, at Howick, whilst I was dressing, and to fancy that I liked eating them the less on that account.

Health and happiness, and every good wish, dear Lady Grey, to you and yours!

Sydney Smith.