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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1842
Sydney Smith to Lady Grey, 19 September 1842
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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Combe Florey, Sept. 19th, 1842.
My dear Lady Grey,

Thank God, this fine summer, which you so admire, is over! I have suffered dreadfully from it. I was only half-alive, and could with difficulty keep all my limbs together, and make them perform their proper functions.

You wrote me a very kind letter; I am very much obliged to you for it. I am very proud of the friendship of yourself and Lord Grey, and value myself more, because you set some value upon me. Luttrell is staying here; he is remarkably well, considering that he has been remarkably well for so many years. You never seem tired of Howick, or if you are, you do not confess it. I am more unfortunate or more honest. I tire of Combe Florey after two months, and sigh for a change, even for the worse. This disposition in me is hereditary; my father lived, within my recollection, in nineteen different places.

Lord Ashburton seems to have done very well. The treaty can hardly be a bad one; any concession was better than war. He owes his success, not more to his own dexterity, than to the present poverty and distress of America. They are in a state of humiliation. The State of Pennsylvania cheats me this year out of £50. There is nothing in the crimes of kings worse than this villany of democracy. The mob positively refuse all taxation for the payment of State debts.

I have heard from several London people the details of —— ——. It is among the most remarkable
476MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.
events of my time, and very frightful. I never longed to steal anything but some manuscript sermons from my brother clergymen, and I have hitherto withstood the temptation.

Sydney Smith.