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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1818
Sydney Smith to John Whishaw, 7 January 1818
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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January 7th, 1818.
My dear Whishaw,

We have been here* for a fortnight, and stay till the 21st. The company who come here are chiefly philosophical, as there is an immense colony of that name in these parts; they seem all good-natured, worthy people, and many of them in the Whig line. In these days, too, everybody reads a little; and there is more variety and information in every class than there was fifty years ago. About the year 1740, a manufacturer of long ells or twilled fustians must have been rather a coarse-grained fellow. It is not among gentlemen of that description I would at present look for all that is delightful in manner and conversation, but they certainly run finer than they did, and are (to use their own phrase) a superior article.

The acquittal of Hone gave me sincere pleasure, because I believe it proceeded, in some measure, from the horror and disgust which the excessive punishments for libel have excited; and if jurymen take this mode of expressing their disgust, judges will be more moderate. It is a rebuke also upon the very offen-

* The name of the place is not given in the MS.—Ed.

150MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
sive and scandalous zeal of ——, and teaches juries their strength and importance. In short, Church and King in moderation are very good things, but we have too much of both. I presume by this time your grief at the death of the Princess is somewhat abated. Death in the midst of youth is always melancholy, but I cannot think it of political importance.

I am very glad the —— have sent their son from home; he is a very unusual boy, and he wanted to be exposed a little more to the open air of the world.

Poor Mackintosh! I am heartily sorry for him; but his situation at Hertford will suit him very well (pelting and contusions always excepted).* He should stipulate for “pebble money,” as it is technically termed, or an annual pension in case he is disabled by the pelting of the students. By the bye, might it not be advisable for the professors to learn the use of the sling (balearis habena)?—it would give them a great advantage over the students.

We are all perfectly well, with the usual January exceptions of colds, sore throats, rheumatism, and hoarseness. I shall be in London in March, but pray write to me before if you have any leisure.

Ever your sincere friend,
Sydney Smith.